Lionel Messi Makes History: First Man to Start in Three World Cup Finals

Messi’s Big Record

Lionel Messi has done something no man has ever done before! He is now the first man ever to start in three World Cup finals.

• He started for Argentina in a huge match against Spain.
• This game is for the world’s most famous trophy: the World Cup.
• Messi is 39 years old.
• He is the captain of his country.
• Argentina is trying to win the World Cup two times in a row ("back-to-back").

Important Point: Messi is also the oldest outfield player (a player who is not a goalkeeper) to ever play in a World Cup final.

How This Compares to the Past

You might wonder: didn’t someone else do this?

• A Brazilian legend named Cafu played in three finals in a row from 1994 to 2002.
• But Cafu did not start in the 1994 final.
• That’s why Messi is the first man to start in three finals.

Messi’s Amazing Stats This World Cup

Messi is having his best World Cup ever with the ball!

• He has scored 8 goals.
• He has made 4 assists (an assist is when you pass to a teammate who then scores).
• He is Argentina’s super-star ("talisman").

The Golden Boot Race

There is a contest for the "Golden Boot" — that goes to the top scorer of the tournament.

• Kylian Mbappé (from France) is currently winning with 10 goals and 4 assists.
• If Messi does his magic tonight, he could:
  1. Catch up to Mbappé
  2. Or even finish ahead of him

How FIFA Decides a Tie for Top Scorer

If two players have the same number of goals, FIFA uses these rules:

1. Look at assists — more assists wins.
2. If assists are also tied, look at minutes played — the player with fewer minutes ranks first.

Important Point: Fewer minutes played is better if everything else is equal!

Related Stories

Here are some fun related reads from ESPN:

• 2026 World Cup Golden Boot tracker: Can Messi catch Mbappé in race to be top scorer?
• Messi is the best player at the World Cup, and the best male athlete of all time
• Who wins World Cup final battle between Messi and Yamal? We do

Summary

Lionel Messi, at 39, became the first man to start in three World Cup finals while captaining Argentina against Spain. He is also the oldest non-goalkeeper to play in a final. With 8 goals and 4 assists, he is chasing Mbappé’s 10 goals for the Golden Boot, and special FIFA tie-rules could decide the winner.

FAQ

Q1: What does "start" in a final mean?
A1: It means Messi was on the field from the very first whistle, not brought in later as a substitute.

Q2: Why is Messi’s record special if Cafu played three finals?
A2: Cafu was in three finals but did not start the 1994 one. Messi started all three of his.

Q3: What is a Golden Boot?
A3: It’s an award for the player who scores the most goals in the World Cup.

Q4: What happens if Messi and Mbappé tie on goals?
A4: FIFA checks assists first, then whoever played fewer minutes wins.

ESPN Global Research contributed to this report.