Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentina national team, has broken his own record for most appearances in World Cup matches.
The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward started against Austria in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, marking his 28th World Cup game.
Lothar Matthäus (25 games) remains second, followed by Miroslav Klose (24). Among active players, Cristiano Ronaldo is closest with 23 games.












