Lionel Messi: A breakdown of his World Cup and career highlights

After inspiring Argentina to a historic World Cup victory in Qatar, we glance again at his illustrious profession.

Lionel Messi holds the World Cup aloft after his side's victory over France | Argentina v France
GOAT? [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Lionel Messi has lastly gained the World Cup.

The ahead has delighted soccer followers for greater than 18 years along with his scintillating, elegant model of soccer, selecting up greater than 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions Leagues alongside the way in which.

Right here’s a glance again on the Argentinian’s efficiency at World Cup 2022 and his profession earlier than it.

Messi’s 2022 World Cup: From catastrophe to triumph

Eight years in the past, Messi got here near the World Cup, dragging his workforce to the ultimate in Brazil, solely to lose to Germany in additional time.

messi 2014
Messi reached the ultimate of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil [Damir Sagolj/Reuters]

Firstly of this World Cup, it regarded like one other trophyless marketing campaign was on the playing cards when Saudi Arabia fought again from a Messi opener to beat the South Individuals 2-1 within the first of many event upsets.

From then on, Argentina grew in confidence, with Messi rising unsurprisingly as their key participant. The veteran ahead rolled again the years and was in unstoppable kind with seven objectives within the event – one lower than French striker Kylian Mbappe, who gained the Golden Boot award.

Lionel Messi holds the World Cup aloft after his side's victory over France | Argentina v France
Eight years after tasting defeat in a World Cup remaining, Messi leads his workforce to victory in Qatar [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Within the remaining, he was as soon as once more instrumental in his aspect’s triumph, scoring twice and netting a penalty within the shootout.

The 35-year-old Argentinian additionally tops the assists charts with three to sit down alongside Harry Kane (England), Antoine Griezmann (France) and Bruno Fernandes (Portugal).

How did Messi examine to the opposite World Cup stars?

For a lot of, the query – who's the best participant of all time, Messi or his longtime rival and five-time Ballon D’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo – has lastly been determined.

The Portuguese famous person, who has by no means gained the event, was benched for his workforce’s video games in opposition to Switzerland and Morocco after scoring in a fifth straight World Cup.

Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo sat on the bench for lots of his nation’s World Cup marketing campaign [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

It was an anti-climatic exit for the 37-year-old, who has virtually actually performed his final World Cup soccer.

There have been excessive expectations for Messi’s Paris St Germain teammate Neymar. The ahead dazzled at instances, scoring two objectives however was additionally tormented by accidents at the beginning of the event and finally, Brazil couldn't do sufficient to beat a disciplined Croatian aspect and exited on the quarterfinal stage.

Brazil's forward #10 Neymar reacts after his team lost the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
Neymar and his Brazil aspect gained three and misplaced two matches on the 2022 World Cup [Adrian Dennis/AFP]

Kylian Mbappe, one other PSG famous person, loved a superb event wherein he completed because the main goalscorer. The French participant scored a hat-trick within the remaining, topping the listing with eight objectives.

What are the highlights of Messi’s Argentina profession?

Messi made his worldwide debut in 2005 after successful the FIFA World Youth Championship that yr. On the 2006 World Cup, he turned the youngest Argentinian participant to play and rating.

Since then, he has joined his compatriot Diego Maradona as a footballing icon each at house and overseas.

  • Worldwide caps: 172
  • Worldwide objectives: 98
  • World Cup appearances: 5
  • World Cup matches performed: 26 (He's now the participant with essentially the most World Cup appearances)
  • World Cup objectives: 13 (a report for Argentina)
  • World Cup finals: 2 (2014, 2022)
  • World Cup 2022 objectives: 7
  • World Cup 2022 assists: 3 (Messi is the one participant to register an help in 5 World Cups)
  • World Cup 2022 Man of the Match awards: 5 (11 general in World Cups, greater than some other participant)
  • Different Worldwide honours: Copa America (2021), CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions (2022), Summer time Olympics (2008), FIFA World Youth Championship (2005)

What particular person honours has Messi gained?

  • Ballon d’Or: 7
  • World Cup Golden Ball award: 2
  • FIFA World Participant of the 12 months: 1
  • The Greatest FIFA Males’s Participant: 1
  • European Golden Shoe: 6
  • FIFA Membership World Cup Golden Ball: 2
  • Laureus World Sportsman of the 12 months: 1
  • Argentina’s Footballer of the 12 months: 14

What has Messi achieved at membership degree?

Messi joined Barcelona’s youth academy when he was 13 and spent a lot of his skilled profession on the Catalan membership.

He's Barcelona’s prime scorer and has made essentially the most appearances for the membership, with 672 objectives in 778 video games in all competitions.

Messi gained 35 trophies at Barcelona, together with 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League trophies, three UEFA Tremendous Cups, seven Copa del Rey crowns, and three FIFA Membership World Cups.

In 2021, Messi moved to the French membership PSG, the place he scored 23 objectives and recorded 29 assists in 53 appearances. He gained the Ligue 1 title with the membership within the 2021-22 season and the French Tremendous Cup in July 2022.

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