Messi chases history at FIFA World Cup 2026 final; List of records 39-year-old can break during Spain vs Argentina
Lionel Messi is chasing a plethora of records when he leads Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Spain in New Jersey. Four years before in Qatar, Messi had led Argentina to their third World Cup triumph. Can Argentina win it for the fourth time?
After 38 days of thrilling action, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming to an end on Sunday night at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey when defending Argentina take on high-flying Spain in the final and the 104th match of this edition of football's greatest show on the earth.
While the collective aim would be to lift the trophy, the limelight will certainly be on Lionel Messi, who is playing his final World Cup game. With eight goals and four assists so far in the competition, the 39-year-old has dropped to second in the Golden Boot race.
France's Kylian Mbappe scored twice against England to go on top to 10 goals. For Messi to topple Mbappe, the Argentina would need to score a hattrick against Spain, which looks a bit tough, considering Spain's defense.
If Messi can't get the Golden Boot, a record-extending third Golden Ball looks a possibility considering his performance throughout the tournament. Messi is the only play to win the award multiple times having received the prestigious prize in 2014 (in Brazil) and 2022 (in Qatar).
Records Messi can break in 2026 World Cup final
| Lionel Messi will become the oldest outfield player to play in a FIFA World Cup final when he face Spain at 39 years and 25 days, thus surpassing Sweden's Nils Liedholm’s 1958 milestone (at 35 years and 264 days). |
| When Lionel Messi leads Argentina in the final against Spain, he will become the first footballer to captain the national team in three World Cup finals - 2014, 2022, 2026. |
| With 8 goals so far, Lionel Messi is just one goal shy of becoming the first Argentine with most goals in a single World Cup. A goal against Spain would take Messi past Guillermo Stabile’s long-standing Argentina record of eight goals in the 1930 edition. |
| Lionel Messi will become the first footballer to lift the World Cup twice as a captain, provided Argentina beat Spain in the final. Messi was the Argentina captain when they won in 2022. |
| If Lionel Messi scores against Spain and Argentina win, it would take him to nine goals, thus surpassing Brazil’s Ronaldo (8 goals in 2002) for most goals scored for the World Cup champions in a single edition. |
| A goal against Spain will make Lionel Messi the oldest to score in an World Cup final at 39 years and 25 days, eclipsing Sweden's Nils Liedholm (35 years, 264 days) in 1958. |
Messi will join the likes of Vava, Pele (both Brazil), Paul Breitner (West Germany), Mbappe and Zinedine Zidane (both France) to become sixth player to score in two separate World Cup finals, if the Argentina captain finds the back of the net against Spain on Sunday.
Lionel Messi's emotional tribute before WC final
Meanwhile, Messi took to Instagram to post emotional tribute to his teammates, coaching staff and fans ahead of the final, saying the team's greatest achievement has been the journey they have shared rather than just the titles they have won. He reflected on his years with the Argentina national team, thanking everyone associated with the squad.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaching staff and support personnel for their contributions to the team's success. "Thank you to each of my teammates, the coaching staff, and all the people who work every day so that this National Team continues to be a family," he said.
"Whatever happens tomorrow, this group has already written a history that we will never forget and that no one can ever erase. LET'S GO ARGENTINA," Messi added. The World Cup final starts at 12:30 AM IST (July 20).
Get all updates from FIFA World Cup 2026 here, along with FIFA World Cup 2026 Complete Schedule and FIFA World Cup 2026 Points Table.
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Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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