Lionel Messi’s dream World Cup: the story of Pulce with the Argentina national team shirt

He is 35 years old. He has already played in four World Cups. From his debut with the blue-and-whites on 17 August 2005 until this world premiere, he became the player with the most caps (164) and the most goals (90) in the history of the Argentina national team. And since it hadn’t happened in previous editions, Lionel Messi arrives in Qatar in a state of grace. Mature, intelligent and accompanied by a group that shares the same identity. Looks like the dream World Cup for Messi.

His love affair with blue and white had the fate of a record holder. Because in his first match, against Hungary in Budapest, he was on the pitch for just 90 seconds. He entered the final section and after 45 seconds the referee showed him the red card and it took him another 45 seconds to retire to the dressing rooms. With that negative record he surpassed Cristian Kily González, sent off on his debut, after 3 minutes, against Brazil.

Gradually, Messi began to form a habit in calls. In his debut, the coach was José Pekerman, who included him in the list of 23 finals for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Leo played three matches, scoring his first goal. In Qatar he can become the only player to convert in five World Cups and with 16 years of difference. The other one capable of doing this is Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi’s second World Cup was South Africa 2010, with Diego Maradona as a coach. He played in all five matches but didn’t score a goal. In the third match, against Greece and due to the absence of Javier Mascherano, he was captain of the national team for the first time. He already has 12 tape fights in world competitions and if he gets to the quarterfinals he will surpass Maradona, who has done it 16 times.

Brazil was his third World Cup and the most effective: he scored 4 goals in 7 games. The final loss to Germany was a huge disappointment for the Argentine star, who had already lost one in the Copa América and then lost two more, against Chile, in 2015 and 2016.

The fourth World Cup, Russia 2018, is one of the worst memories. A wrong penalty, short circuits with the technical staff and an early elimination in the round of 16 against France, finally world champions. He played all four games and scored just one goal. Thus, he totals 19 matches and 6 goals in this competition.

Starting next Tuesday, November 22, the Paris Saint Germain striker will become the only Argentine player to play in five World Cups. But he also has other records ahead of him. If he scores, as already mentioned, he will have converted 16 years later, leaving 9 other players in second place, including Pelé and Maradona.

In the second round, against Mexico, he will play his 21st match and equal Diego as the player with the most caps, 21. And against Poland, at the end of the group stage, he will surpass him. In the round of 16 it would be his 16th game as captain, the same as D10S, who holds the all-time record. If Argentina goes to the quarterfinals, Messi will be the new brand.

In this way, if Lionel Scaloni’s team remains in the top four of the tournament, Messi, if he plays all 7 games, will reach 26 and become the player with the most games in the history of the World Cup, surpassing the German Lothar by one Matthäus.

One more detail, perhaps forgotten. Diego Maradona played for 17 years, 3 months and 27 days in the national team, from his debut on 27 February 1977 against Hungary in a friendly match at Boca until 25 June 1994 against Nigeria at the World Cup in the USA. Since August 17, 2005, Leo has turned 17 years, two months and 22 days until this Thursday, November 10, 2022. On December 15, he will equal Diego. On the 17th, day of third place, or on the 18th, in the final, he will overtake it.

But beyond the records, Lionel Messi’s big dream is to lift the World Cup. It’s everyone’s dream.