Lionel Messi will be eager to win the elusive FIFA World Cup tonight (December 18) when Argentina plays France, the current world champions.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Messi was at his most devastating, leading La Albiceleste to the final. In the final at the Lusail Stadium, they will face France, the current champions. After Brazil (1962) and Italy (1938), Les Bleus aim to become only the third nation to win two FIFA World Cups simultaneously.
Messi has been absolutely essential in leading Argentina to their sixth World Cup final, where he currently holds the scoring and assists records. Messi leads the Golden Boot race with five goals and a tournament-high three assists, along with France international Kylian Mbappe.
During Argentina’s matchup with Australia in the Round of 16, the 35-year-old recently joined a select group of players who have played 1,000 career games for club and country. In the World Cup final against France, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner could achieve seven more milestones:
#1 Most World Cup victories by a player
Messi has won 16 games. He will join German legend Miroslav Klose as the player with the most World Cup victories if he can lead Argentina to victory against France.
#2 Most appearances by a player in FIFA World Cup
Messi is level with Lothar Matthaus for most appearances in the FIFA World Cup (25). When he takes the field tonight against France, he will break the record.
#3 Most minutes played in the FIFA World Cup
Lionel Messi is only 23 minutes behind Italian legend Paolo Maldini’s record of most minutes played in World Cup history (2217).
#4 Most assists in FIFA World Cup history
Messi has provided the most assists in FIFA World Cup history, with nine. If he has two assists tonight against Les Bleus, he has a chance to tie or surpass Brazilian legend Pele (10).
#5 Win multiple Golden Ball awards
Win multiple Golden Balls Lionel Messi is favored to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball for the second time. Messi will become the first player to win it twice after winning it in 2014.
#6 Win both Golden Boot and Golden Ball in the same World Cup
Win both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the same World Cup Messi has a chance to become the eighth player to ever do so.
#7 Most World Cup goals
Lionel Messi has scored 20 goals (11 goals and 9 assists) in the tournament. He will equal Pele’s World Cup record for most goals contributed (22; 10 assists, 12 goals)
Ousmane Dembele heaps praise on Lionel Messi ahead of the FIFA World Cup final
Before the FIFA World Cup final, Ousmane Dembele praises Lionel Messi, claiming that the Argentina captain made him “fall in love” with Barcelona. Dembele, a France international, was a teammate of Messi’s at Barcelona. He stated,
“Along with Iniesta, he is an exceptional player who contributed to my love of Barcelona. I had a wonderful four years with him.
In the changing room, he is a regular guy. He aids new players. He gave me much. We will have to do everything in our power to ensure that he touches the ball as little as possible because he is difficult to control. I believe I can improve offensively, but sometimes the team is more important to me than the numbers. But it is true that I haven’t reached a goal.’“
Dembele will be a key player in the final against Argentina because of his impressive performance for France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.