Lionel Messi retires: What records and titles does Argentina legend hold? | Football

A by-the-numbers have a look at Messi’s worldwide profession with Argentina, together with his particular person and group honours.

Argentina famous person Lionel Messi, one of many best footballers of all time, introduced down the curtain on his two-decade-long international career on Monday.

The 39-year-old diminutive ahead broke a number of data, gained trophies and registered quite a few objectives and assists throughout his time with Argentina.

Right here’s a have a look at statistics involving his worldwide profession:

1: Messi gained the FIFA World Cup as soon as, in Qatar in 2022, main Argentina to their first world title since 1986. He additionally reached the ultimate two different occasions, in 2014 and 2026, shedding to Germany and Spain, respectively.

The ahead additionally has an Olympic gold medal in his cupboard. Then aged 21, he assisted teammate Angel Di Maria’s profitable aim, which earned them the elusive gold at Beijing 2008.

2: Messi has gained the Copa America title twice, guiding Argentina to back-to-back triumphs within the 2021 and 2024 editions.

He’s additionally the one participant to win the Golden Ball award for the Finest Participant of the Match twice, on the 2014 and 2022 World Cups.

3: Messi is the one participant to have began in three World Cup finals – 2014, 2022 and 2026.

6: The variety of World Cups through which Messi performed (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) is tied for probably the most with longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

7: Messi additionally holds the report for probably the most objectives scored from penalties in World Cups.

11: Unsurprisingly, he additionally has probably the most Participant of the Match awards on the World Cups.

Eleven can also be the variety of hat-tricks he scored for Argentina, probably the most for the Albiceleste.

12: Messi boasts the report for probably the most assists within the World Cup.

21: He has represented Argentina for 21 years (2005-26).

Twenty-one can also be the variety of objectives Messi scored throughout his six World Cups, which makes him the second-highest scorer of all time, solely one behind Kylian Mbappe of France.

34: Messi holds the report for probably the most appearances at World Cups.

39: He additionally has probably the most appearances in Copa America.

Messi was aged 39 when he introduced his worldwide retirement, greater than 20 years after making his debut for Argentina in a pleasant towards Hungary in August 2005. At 39 years and 25 days, he was additionally the oldest outfield participant to start out a World Cup last.

60: Probably the most assists for Argentina in worldwide soccer lie with Messi.

125: Messi’s dominance goes far past Argentina. He additionally holds the report for probably the most objectives by a South American. His 125 worldwide objectives are greater than double these netted by some other Argentina participant. Nevertheless, it’s second to Cristiano Ronaldo (146 objectives) on the all-time scoring listing in males’s worldwide soccer.

The earlier report was held by Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 54 in 78 appearances between 1991 and 2002.

207: Messi walked away with 207 worldwide caps, an Argentina report. The report in males’s soccer is once more held by Ronaldo, who has performed 233 video games for Portugal.

2,314: Lastly, Messi has performed probably the most World Cup match minutes, collected throughout six editions.

He retires from worldwide obligation as the one participant to have scored within the World Cup in his teenagers, 20s and 30s.