Messi Matches Maradona’s Record, Targets Batistuta, Matthaus

Lionel Messi helped Argentina overcome Mexico 2-0 in their second group game on Saturday night to restore hopes of qualifying for the knockout round.

The PSG player in the process achieved two historic milestones. First, he matched Diego Maradona as the Argentinian with the most World Cup appearances and has now also matched the eight goals that Diego scored at the tournament.

He is now just two goals behind Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina’s top scorer in the World Cup.

Messi has made 21 World Cup appearances – the same as Maradona and one more than Javier Mascherano. He is now four away from the all-time appearance record of German Lothar Matthaus.

Messi previously played three games in Germany 2006, five in South Africa 2010, seven in Brazil 2014 and four in Russia 2018.

The former Barcelona star could equal Matthaus if Argentina reaches the semi-finals in Qatar and would beat him in the final or in the clash for third and fourth place.

With his goal against Saudi Arabia, Messi had already become the first Argentine to score in four World Cups (2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022).

Maradona did it in 1982, 1986 and 1994; Batistuta in 1994, 1998 and 2002.