Affectionately known as “La Pulga” (“The Flea”), Lionel Messi entered the 2022 World Cup having won more major team and individual trophies than any other player in international soccer but still missing the sport’s top prize, according to ESPN.
Messi earned the World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player when Argentina reached the 2014 final, but the team fell to Germany 1-0 after Mario Götze scored in the 113th minute.
At the 2022 tournament in Qatar the then-35-year-old Argentina captain completed the one major item left on his list. Messi became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice and helped Argentina secure the title, outlasting Kylian Mbappé and France on penalties. The victory gave Argentina its third World Cup and its first since 1986.
According to ESPN, Messi’s World Cup career spans six tournaments — 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 — with 26 appearances, 2,314 minutes played, 13 goals and eight assists.
Per-tournament breakdown (ESPN): 2006 in Germany — three appearances, one goal and one assist; Argentina reached the quarterfinals. 2010 in South Africa — five appearances, no goals and one assist; Argentina reached the quarterfinals. 2014 in Brazil — seven appearances, four goals and one assist; Golden Ball winner and runner-up. 2018 in Russia — four appearances, one goal and two assists; Argentina reached the Round of 16. 2022 in Qatar — seven appearances, seven goals and three assists; Golden Ball winner and tournament champion.
