Lionel Messi Equals World Cup Appearance Record

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has become the second player in men's World Cup history to feature in 25 matches.

The 35-year-old equaled the record previously set by Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaus when he started in Tuesday's semi-final against Croatia.

Messi will break the World Cup appearance record outright if he plays in either the final or third-place playoff at the weekend.

Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Messi has featured at five different World Cups, registering at least one assist at each of them.

Including Messi, only 14 players have made 20 or more World Cup appearances.

Miroslav Klose is third on the list after playing in 24 games for Germany.

Former Italy defender Paolo Maldini is fourth with 23 appearances, ahead of Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo with 22.

Diego Maradona, Wladyslaw Zmuda and Uwe Seeler all played in 21 World Cup games.

Grzegorz Lato, Javier Mascherano, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Cafu, Rafael Marquez and Philipp Lahm each made 20 World Cup appearances.