Lionel Messi Climbs to Second in All-Time List After Latest World Cup Heroics

It seems like the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is making history at every turn.

Lionel Messi continues to defy expectations at the World Cup. | Jussi Eskola/Soccrates/Getty Images

Lionel Messi keeps pushing himself to new heights at the 2026 World Cup.

The 39-year-old scored his 20th World Cup goal during Friday night’s enthralling win over Cabo Verde, extending his own record set earlier in the tournament—remarkably, 14 of those have come since turning 35. Messi is currently on a streak of eight successive World Cup matches with a goal. He also became the first player—male or female—to score seven or more goals in two World Cup.

Beyond the confines of the World Cup, Messi’s appearance for Argentina against Cabo Verde was his 203rd for the national team at senior level. That is already an Argentina record that will likely never be touched—Messi is 56 ahead of Javier Mascherano in second place, all-time.

Overall, Messi is now second for senior national team appearances in men’s soccer.

He tied Kuwait forward Bader al-Mutawa on 202 caps by coming off the bench against Jordan during the World Cup group stage. Luka Modrić then also moved onto 202 when he played in Croatia’s round of 32 defeat to Portugal in the last few days.

Messi moved ahead of both on Friday. Long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo is the only man that has played in more senior international soccer matches. His appearance against Croatia was a 232nd for Portugal, a number which will keep growing as long as he’s in the World Cup.

However, 41-year-old Ronaldo is expected to retire from Portugal duty after the tournament, both tipped by his sister to do so and a natural stopping point when his career as a whole is increasingly unlikely to extend beyond 2027. So, his record won’t grow by much more.

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Most International Appearances in Men’s Soccer—All-Time

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the world record. | Patrick Smith/FIFA/Getty Images

Player	National Team	Appearances	Years
Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	232	2003–present
Lionel Messi	Argentina	203	2005–present
Bader Al Mutawa	Kuwait	202	2003–2022
Luka Modrić	Croatia	202	2006–present
Soh Chin Ann	Malaysia	195	1969–1984
Ahmed Kano	Oman	193	2003–2019
Hassan Al Haydos	Qatar	188	2008–present
Ahmed Hassan	Egypt	184	1995–2012
Sergio Ramos	Spain	180	2005–2021
Andrés Guardado	Mexico	180	2005–2024

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Will Messi Beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s Appearances World Record?

If Argentina gets all the way to the final, Messi could add four more matches to his tally. Catching Ronaldo is possible, but it could take a few years of ongoing dedication.

Messi tends to play six or less Argentina matches in years with no major tournament to compete in. There is a Copa América coming up in 2028, but Messi might need to go right up to the 2030 World Cup, by which time he will be due to turn 43. Given that he refused for month to commit even to playing in this summer’s World Cup, it seems unlikely he will stick at it with Argentina until then.

For reference, 10 players in women’s soccer have made more national team appearances than Ronaldo’s current men’s world record. Four have played over 300 and the record, set at 354 in 2010, belongs to former USWNT midfielder and captain Kristine Lilly.

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