8 Records Achieved by Lionel Messi at the World Cup 2022 as the Best Player
Lionel Messi also appeared crazy. In addition to scoring two goals in 120 minutes, Lionel Messi also scored a goal in the penalty shootout. In summary, there are a number of records scored by Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup. What are they?
Here are 8 records scored by Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup:
1. Argentina's all-time top score in the World Cup
Lionel Messi scored seven goals at the 2022 World Cup. This made Lionel Messi immediately become Argentina's all-time top scorer at the World Cup, namely 13 goals. He outperformed the previous top scorer, Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 10 goals.
2. Youngest and Oldest Players to Score for Argentina
Lionel Messi is currently listed as the youngest and oldest player to score a goal for Argentina at the World Cup. In 2006 when Argentina won 6-0 over Serbia & Montenegro, Lionel Messi scored one goal.
At that time, Lionel Messi was 18 years and 357 days old. Then when he scored against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi was recorded as the oldest player to score a goal for Argentina, at the age of 35 years and 168 days to be precise.
3. Score goals in all rounds
Lionel Messi scored goals in all rounds of the 2022 World Cup, namely the group phase, last 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the 2022 World Cup final. La Pulga was also recorded as the first player to always score in all knockout phase matches.
4. Most Played Minutes
Lionel Messi is currently listed as the footballer with the most minutes played at the World Cup. La Pulga passed the previous record holder from Italy, Paolo Maldini.
5. Most Appearances in the World Cup
Lionel Messi is currently listed as the footballer with the most appearances in the World Cup, namely 26 times. This father of three beat the previous record holder from Germany, Lotthar Mathus, who packed 25 caps.
6. Most wins in the World Cup
Lionel Messi has won 17 World Cup wins. This number surpasses the achievements of Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 wins.
7. Match Pele's record
Lionel Messi equaled Pele's record as a footballer with the most goal contributions (goals and assists) at the World Cup, namely 22 balls. Pele recorded 12 goals and 10 assists, while Lionel Messi scored 13 goals and nine assists.
8. The First Player to Win 2 Golden Balls in the World Cup
Lionel Messi is the first player to win 2 Golden Balls or 2 World Cup best player trophies. What about Lionel Messi's rival, Cristiano Ronaldo? CR7 has never won the World Cup Golden Ball trophy so far.
The 2022 World Cup trophy also seems to show that Lionel Messi deserves to stand above Cristiano Ronaldo. So, Lionel Messi deserves to be pinned as GOAT or the greatest footballer of all time?
