The records Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can break at Qatar 2022 World Cup
The Argentine and his Portuguese counterpart are gearing up for their fifth time at the tournament
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won’t just form part of Qatar 2022’s ‘Five Club’ of players who have played in the most World Cups, but also have other new records in their sights.
MESSI
Most games: Messi has played 19 games over four World Cups, one less than Javier Mascherano, two less than Diego Maradona, and six less than leader Lothar Matthaus. If Argentina reach the final and Messi plays in each game, he will have played in more World Cup games than any other player in history.
Most wins: German striker Miroslav Klose won 17 matches in four World Cups (from 2002-2014). Messi has 12. Argentina would have to reach the final with a perfect record for him to beat this one.
First player to assist in five World Cups: He’s already the only player to give assists in four World Cups (five total), and he can raise the bar further. He’s also three assists behind Diego Maradona, who leads the category.
Most games as captain: Rafa Marquez (17) and Maradona (16) are under threat, with Messi on 12 and looking to add to it. It was Maradona who made Messi second captain and when Mascherano did not play against Greece in 2010, he took the armband.
Longest time between first and last WC goals: He’s in direct competition with Cristiano Ronaldo here. The Portuguese netted on June 17 2006, while Messi scored against Serbia a day earlier. The pair have been favoured by the move to winter for the tournament.
First Argentine to score in four: Maradona (82, 86, 94) and Gabriel Batistuta (94, 98, 02) did it in three World Cups. With six goals, Messi is two behind Maradona and four off Batistuta as the top scorer for Argentina at the tournament.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
First to score in five World Cups: Cristiano netted against Iran 16 years ago and has scored in every tournament since, with seven goals.
Top scorer for Portugal: Ronaldo is just two off the nine netted by ‘black panther’ Eusebio, who bagged them all in England 66.
Most games as captain: Same as Messi, the 11 captaincies of Cristiano give him a chance of beating Maradona and Marquez if they reach the final. Cristiano debuted as captain in his second tournament, South Africa 2010.
Longest time between first and last WC goals: Leo Messi has a day’s advantage on him, but Portugal play their group games two days after Argentina…
