Lionel Messi’s milestones: Every Argentina record the GOAT now owns

Lionel Messi, superstar for Barcelona and now Inter Miami, is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time. His legacy is backed by a staggering list of team and individual accolades—including a record eight Ballon d’Or awards.

At 38 years old, Messi continues to defy age and expectations with his brilliance at the club level. Despite having achieved everything in football, he remains motivated by pure love for the game.

For Argentina, Messi has transcended icon status—standing shoulder to shoulder with the late Diego Maradona—after leading the Albiceleste to their first FIFA World Cup title in 36 years at Qatar 2022. His impact has been felt not only on the pitch but across generations of fans and aspiring players.

In addition to the World Cup, Messi has guided Argentina to multiple major honors, including the Copa América and Finalissima, and holds nearly every significant record in the national team’s history.

🇦🇷Lionel Messi all-time stats with Argentina national team.

🎽194 games
⚽114 goals
🅰️58 assist
🔑172 G+A
🏆1 world cup
🏆2 Copa America
🥇1 Olympic Gold
🏆1 finallisma
🏆1 U-20 world cup
🥇2 world golden ball
👟2 golden boot
🥅10 hat-trick
🥅11 free-kick pic.twitter.com/4iqYks9rE0

— Messi FC World (@MessiFCWorld) September 13, 2025

Argentina National Team Records Held by Lionel Messi

• Most international caps: 194 

   

• Most goals for Argentina: 114 

   

• Most goals at FIFA World Cup: 13 

   

• Most goals in a calendar year: 18 in 14 games (2022) 

   

• Most hat-tricks: 10 

   

• Youngest Argentina World Cup captain: 22 years, 363 days 

   

  Messi’s World Cup Records

• Most matches played at the World Cup: 26 

   

• Most matches played as captain: 19 

   

• Most minutes played: 2,314 

   

• Most assists in knockout stages: 6 (tied with Pelé) 

   

• Most World Cups assisted at: 5 

   

• Most Player of the Match awards: 11 

   

• Only player to score in every knockout round in a single edition
   

   

• Biggest gap between first and last World Cup goals: 16 years, 184 days 

   

• Only player to win the Golden Ball twice
   

   

• Most goals in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers: 34 

   

• Only player to score in World Cup tournaments in his teens, 20s, and 30s
   

   

Copa América Records

• Most matches played: 39 

   

• Most wins: 25 

   

• Most assists: 18 

   

• First Argentine to score in seven different Copa América tournaments
   

   

• First player to play in five Copa América finals
   

   

With a total of 45 career trophies to his name, Messi stands alone as the most decorated footballer of all time. From Olympic gold to Champions League glory, Copa América triumphs to club dominance, there are few feats Messi hasn’t conquered.

As he continues to rewrite football history, Lionel Messi’s name is forever etched into the sport’s most elite pantheon—not just as a record holder, but as its greatest ever player.

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