Records upon records: Lionel Messi's numbers with Argentina
Skipper, who ends his international career tonight against Benin in a farewell friendly, is Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. Leer más
Lionel Messi is set to retire from Argentina's senior national team after a remarkable career spanning 207 appearances and 125 goals. The 39-year-old has etched his name into the annals of football history as the country's most-capped player and the all-time leading scorer. Over two decades, Messi led Argentina to four major titles, including the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América.
His impressive goal-scoring record includes 54 goals from friendlies, 36 from South American World Cup qualifiers, 21 from World Cups, and 14 from Copa América tournaments. Messi's goal tally in qualifying games for CONMEBOL is also the highest of any player, with 36 goals in 72 appearances. In addition to his senior achievements, Messi has claimed six titles with Argentina's youth national teams, including the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
Messi made his senior debut for Argentina in 2005 and has played in all six World Cups, including the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He has scored 21 goals in those tournaments, placing him just one goal behind Kylian Mbappé's total. Messi's legacy extends beyond his goal-scoring prowess; he holds the record for the most appearances and wins in World Cup history.
He is the only player to have won the World Cup Golden Ball twice, once in 2014 and again in 2022. Tonight, Messi will bid farewell to Argentina's senior national team with a friendly match against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, marking the end of an illustrious career.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
