Messi has achieved a record of Maradona: they are the Argentines with the most appearances at the World Cup

Lionel Messi reached the mark of 21 matches played for the Argentina national team at the World Cupbeing the starter against Mexico for Group C’s second date Qatar World Cup 2022.

The Flea achieves the same number of encounters as it has logged Diego Armando Maradona since his last appearance in the United States in 1994 with the Albiceleste shirt.

The current captain of the national team started at the Lusail stadium and when the Italian referee Daniele Orsato started the match he equaled the historic mark of the Villa Fiorito legend.

The champion from Rosario, who is playing his fifth World Cup, was present to represent the blue-and-whites in the editions of Germany 2006 (3 games), South Africa 2010 (5), Brazil 2014 (7), Russia 2018 (4) and Qatar 2022 (2).

In the 20 games already played, Rosario’s man has converted 7 goals, provided 5 assists and only received a yellow card.

In the event of a match against Poland, next Wednesday 30 at the 974 stadium for the third round of group C of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the winner of seven Ballon d’Ors will be at the top of the table of matches played by the Argentines at the World Cup.

The record belongs to the German Lothar Matthaus with 25 appearances in the 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

The other record that Messi will reach will be equaling the 14 games as captain of a national team held by the Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff.

In this entry will still have in front of the Mexican Rafael Márquez (15) and Diego Armando Maradona (16).

With information from Telam.