Lionel Messi made history as the first male player to participate in six separate FIFA World Cup tournaments, spanning three distinct decades: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026.
His World Cup journey across the decades highlights his evolution from a teenage prodigy to the ultimate champion:
• The 2000s (2006 Germany): Messi debuted as an 18-year-old in 2006, scoring his first World Cup goal against Serbia and becoming Argentina’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the tournament.
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• The 2010s (2010 South Africa, 2014 Brazil, 2018 Russia): Messi established himself as the focal point of the national team. He led Argentina to the World Cup Final in 2014—winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
• The 2020s (2022 Qatar, 2026 North America): Messi captained Argentina to their historic 2022 World Cup victory over France. In 2026, at 39 years old, he extended his all-time tournament records to 33 appearances, 21 goals, and 12 assists.
Photos below:
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