With just over two months remaining until the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, the global football community is bracing for the largest tournament in history. For the first time, 48 teams will compete for the ultimate prize, and while the group stage pairings are already set, the narrative is being dominated by the individual pursuit of immortality. Throughout the previous 22 editions, legends like Pelé, Diego Maradona, Johan Cuyff and Zinedine Zidane have defined the sport, but a select group of only 14 players has managed to cross the elite threshold of 20 matches played.
Currently, Lionel Messi stands at the summit with 26 World Cup matches, a record he secured during his triumphant 2022 run in Qatar. By reaching the final, Messi surpassed the long-standing mark of 25 set by Germany’s Lothar Matthäus, who played in three consecutive finals.
Following them on the all-time list are the World Cup’s leading scorer Miroslav Klose (24 matches), Italian icon Paolo Maldini (23), and Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently sits at 22 appearances. Should Portugal advance deep into the knockout rounds, Ronaldo is poised to climb into the second-place spot on the all-time list.
The Exclusive “Six Club”: Messi and Ronaldo Prepare for a Historic Final Dance
The 2026 tournament represents more than just a swan song for the two greatest players of this generation; it marks the moment they stand alone as the only athletes to ever play in six World Cups.
This feat breaks the current tie of five appearances held by Lothar Matthäus and the legendary Mexican trio of Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado, and Rafael Marquez. Entering a sixth tournament isn’t just a testament to their skill, but to an unprecedented level of longevity and physical maintenance at the highest level of international soccer.
While the record books will also note that Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is joining them in his sixth world-class squad, the distinction between being present and being a protagonist remains clear. Ochoa, now 40, has only started in three of the five tournaments he has attended and is expected to serve more as a locker room mentor and “coach on the field” for Mexico than as the primary starter in 2026.
This leaves the path clear for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to finish their careers as the undisputed leaders in both matches played and World Cup appearances.
Although Messi and Ronaldo’s record of six appearances seems hard to match, young stars like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham (22), and Lamine Yamal (18) could catch up to them. Mbappé could surpass them in appearances and finish as the tournament’s top scorer; he already has 12 goals in just two appearances.
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