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Diego Maradona and Messi both made their Argentina debuts against Hungary, coming off the bench in the 62nd and 63rd minutes respectively. ‘La Pulga Atomica’ was sent off just two minutes into his bow.
The blinding big-stage intro
Messi was sent on for his World Cup debut in the 76th minute against Serbia and Montenegro at Germany 2006. Within three minutes he’d set up Hernan Crespo to score and 10 minutes later he slotted home to seal a 6-0 victory – Argentina’s joint-biggest in the competition.
Youngest scorers in World Cup history
Pele, Brazil – 17 and 239 days in 1958
Manuel Rosas, Mexico – 18 and 93 days in 1930
Michael Owen, England – 18 and 191 days in 1998
Nicolae Kovacs, Romania – 18 and 198 days in 1930
Dimitri Sychev, Russia – 18 and 232 days in 2002
Lionel Messi, Argentina – 18 and 358 days in 2006
Aleksandar Tirnanic, Yugoslavia – 18 and 365 days in 1930
Julian Green, USA – 19 and 25 days in 2014
Divock Origi, Belgium – 19 and 65 days in 2014
Martin Hoffman, East Germany – 19 and 88 days in 1974
Top five golazos
Mexico
Copa America 2007
There are chips, there are incredible chips and then there’s Messi’s masterpiece. The elevation was truly mind-blowing. It helped Argentina reach the final.
Brazil
International friendly, 2012
In the 84th minute of an engrossing East Rutherford clash, Messi collected the ball, pinned to the right touchline, with Marcelo pouncing. The Argentinian somehow conned his adversary, carried the ball north-west and, from just outside the box, fizzed an impeccable curler into the top corner to seal his hat-trick and a 4-3 win. It was nominated for that year’s FIFA Puskás Award.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil 2014
Messi picked up possession near the centre-circle, shimmied Muhamed Besic and set off. He then played a one-two with Gonzalo Higuain, exquisitely slalomed around Ermin Bicakcic and produced a supreme, low finish from just outside the penalty area that went in off the post and, ultimately, earned Argentina a 2-1 victory in their opener.
IR Iran
Brazil 2014
The deadlock was intact when the ball fell to Messi in injury time. Minimal danger seemed apparent but he instantly shifted the ball to his left and produced a sensational strike from distance.
Nigeria
Russia 2018
The movement; the imaginative, exceptional, first-time control on his thigh, the palatial second touch to ward off Kenneth Omeruo; the dynamic finish… hypothetically, would any other player in football history have scored that goal? Messi did it to help snatch a 2-1 victory in a win-or-bust game for Argentina.
The long wait
Messi propelled Argentina to FIFA U-20 World Cup™ and Men’s Olympic Football Tournament glory, but had to wait 16 years for his first senior international title. After finishing runner-up thrice at the Copa America and once at the World Cup, the Rosario native helped La Albiceleste conquer South America in July.
Stats
Pele reigned as South America’s outright leading international marksman for 59 years – he outranked Ademir de Menezes, who hit 32 goals for Brazil – until Messi broke his record in 2021.
Most goals in one calendar year for Argentina
Lionel Messi – 18 goals in 14 games in 2022
Lionel Messi – 12 goals in 9 games in 2012
Gabriel Batistuta – 12 goals in 12 games in 1998
Antonio Angelillo – 10 goals in 9 games in 1957
Sergio Aguero – 10 goals in 10 games in 2015
Quotes
“They once said you could only stop me with a pistol. Today you need a machine gun to stop Messi.”
Hristo Stoichkov
“When I met Messi I reached out and touched him. I needed to make sure he was human like the rest of us.”
Gigi Buffon
“When I look back on my career, the most enjoyable thing was seeing the early years of Leo Messi. When he retires, football – not just Barcelona – should retire the No10 shirt.”
Ronaldinho
“I think he reached and surpassed the level of Maradona. He does incredible things, at a speed that is insane.”
Paolo Maldini
“Although he may not be human, it’s good that Messi still thinks he is.”
Javier Mascherano
“For me, watching Messi play is a pleasure is like having an orgasm. It’s an incredible pleasure.”
Luis Figo
Top-scoring men in World Cup history
Miroslav Klose (16 goals in 24 games)
Ronaldo (15 in 19)
Gerd Muller (14 in 13)
Just Fontaine (13 in 6)
Lionel Messi (13 in 26)
Pele (12 in 14)
Sandor Kocsis (11 in 5)
Jurgen Klinsmann (11 in 17)
Helmut Rahn (10 in 10)
Gabriel Batistuta (10 in 12)
Gary Lineker (10 in 12)
Teofilo Cubillas (10 in 13)
Thomas Muller (10 in 19)
Grzegorz Lato (10 in 20)
Top-scoring men in international football history
Cristiano Ronaldo (133 goals in 216 games)
Lionel Messi (112 in 189)
Ali Daei (109 in 148)
Sunil Chhetri (94 in 151)
Mokhtar Dahari (89 in 142)
Ali Mabkhout (85 in 114)
Ferenc Puskas (84 in 89)
Robert Lewandowski (84 in 156)
Romelu Lukaku (82 in 115)
Godfrey Chitalu (79 in 111)
Neymar (79 in 128)
