of the on Tuesday, June 16 when in play at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
This shall be Messi’s sixth World Cup event. He and Argentina gained the 2022 outing, a feat that
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The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner got here up by way of the system and established his identify as one of many world’s finest gamers. He shocked the world when he left for after which made one other groundbreaking transfer when he signed with David Beckham’s MLS membership, , the place he performs at the moment.
The world is watching as Messi makes an attempt a feat that only a few have completed: successful back-to-back World Cups.
How previous is Lionel Messi?
Messi is 38 years and 357 days previous on Tuesday, June 16 as Argentina prepares to tackle Algeria for its first match of the 2026 World Cup. He’ll flip 39 in the course of the group stage of the event as a result of his birthday is June 24. That day, Argentina shall be off, between their second and third Group J matches.
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentine participant Lionel Messi performs with a ball throughout a coaching session at Herzogs Park, Herzogenaurach on June 6, 2006, forward of the Fifa World Cup 2006.
(DANIEL GARCIA, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentine participant Lionel Messi performs with a ball throughout a coaching session at Herzogs Park, Herzogenaurach on June 6, 2006, forward of the Fifa World Cup 2006.
(DANIEL GARCIA, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentine gamers Lionel Messi (R) and Fabricio Coloccini signal autographs for supporters throughout a coaching session at Herzogs Park, Herzogenaurach on June 6, 2006, forward of the Fifa World Cup 2006.
(DANIEL GARCIA, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentinian ahead Lionel Messi blows a bubble forward of the quarter-final World Cup soccer match between Germany and Argentina at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on June 30, 2006.
(DANIEL GARCIA, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentina’s footballer Lionel Messi exhibits off throughout a coaching session on the discipline of the Union Atletica in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on June 30, 2007.
(ALEJANDRO PAGNI, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentina’s coach Diego Maradona hugs Argentina’s striker Lionel Messi after the 2010 World Cup quarter closing Argentina vs Germany on July 3, 2010 at Inexperienced Level stadium in Cape City. Germany gained 4-0.
(JAVIER SORIANO, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentina’s ahead and captain Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his group’s second aim in the course of the Group F soccer match between Argentina and Bosnia Hercegovina on the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro in the course of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 15, 2014.
(JUAN MABROMATA, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
A fan tries to kiss the ft of Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the course of the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier soccer match in opposition to Uruguay in Mendoza, Argentina, on Sept. 1, 2016.
(JUAN MABROMATA, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentina’s ahead Lionel Messi celebrates his aim in the course of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D soccer match between Nigeria and Argentina on the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018.
(KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring his group’s first aim in the course of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
(Alex Livesey, Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Brazil’s Neymar (L) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi discuss earlier than their South American qualification soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on the Neo Quimica Area, also referred to as Corinthians Area, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 5, 2021.
(NELSON ALMEIDA, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Staff Argentina with Lionel Messi (R) of Argentina sing their nationwide anthem previous to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on Nov. 22, 2022 in Lusail Metropolis, Qatar.
(Matthias Hangst, Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Lionel Messi of Argentina exhibits dejection in the course of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on Nov. 22, 2022 in Lusail Metropolis, Qatar.
(Matthias Hangst, Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Lionel Messi of Argentina is fouled by Wojciech Szczesny of Poland which results in a penalty in the course of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on Nov. 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
(Matthias Hangst, Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentina’s ahead Lionel Messi celebrates after he scores his group’s second aim from the penalty spot in the course of the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between The Netherlands and Argentina at Lusail Stadium, north of Doha on Dec. 9, 2022.
(FRANCK FIFE, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Followers of Argentina maintain a flag depicting Argentine soccer stars Lionel Messi (L) and late Diego Maradona (R) whereas gathering on the Obelisk to rejoice successful the Qatar 2022 World Cup in opposition to France in Buenos Aires, on Dec. 18, 2022.
(EMILIANO LASALVIA, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with teammates after scoring the group’s first aim in the course of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Last match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on Dec.18, 2022 in Lusail Metropolis, Qatar.
(Richard Heathcote, Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Argentina’s ahead Lionel Messi kicks the ball in the course of the Qatar 2022 World Cup closing soccer match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on Dec. 18, 2022.
(KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Lionel Messi of Argentina scores the group’s third aim previous Hugo Lloris of France in the course of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Last match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on Dec. 18, 2022 in Lusail Metropolis, Qatar.
(Julian Finney, Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner’s Trophy whereas holding the adidas Golden Boot award after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Last match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on Dec. 18, 2022 in Lusail Metropolis, Qatar.
(Julian Finney, Getty Photographs)
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Look again as Lionel Messi makes historical past with sixth World Cup exhibiting
Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner’s Trophy in the course of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Last match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on Dec.18, 2022 in Lusail Metropolis, Qatar.
(Julian Finney, Getty Photographs)What are Lionel Messi’s World Cup stats?
Messi has appeared in 26 World Cup matches throughout 5 tournaments for Argentina. The 2026 competitors shall be his sixth. He has 13 objectives and eight assists.
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He’s three objectives away from ‘s Miroslav Klose for many objectives in World Cup historical past (16).
What’s Lionel Messi and Argentina’s World Cup schedule?
Messi and Argentina play in Group J. Listed here are their three group stage fixtures:
June 16 – Argentina vs. Algeria – Kansas Metropolis, 9 p.m. ET – Fox
June 22 – Argentina vs. – Dallas Space, 1 p.m. ET – Fox
June 27 – vs. Argentina – Dallas Space, 10 p.m. ET – Fox
Who’s the oldest participant on the 2026 World Cup?
, a goalkeeper for , is at 43 years previous.
is the second oldest participant at 41 years previous.
goalkeeper is the third oldest at 40.