A Two-Decade Journey in One Post

Lionel Messi, just three days before the Argentine National Team makes its debut against Algeria in Group J of the 2026 World Cup, posted a nostalgia-filled message on his official Instagram account. The captain uploaded a carousel of six photographs tracing his World Cup career, from his debut as a young prodigy in Germany 2006 to his preparation for what could be his final World Cup in North America.

The post, accompanied by the brief caption "2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣6️⃣⚽️2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣", showcases the evolution of the player from Rosario over 20 years. The images include his journey through South Africa 2010 (coached by the legendary Diego Armando Maradona), Brazil 2014 (where he lost the final), Russia 2018, and the glorious triumph in Qatar 2022, concluding with the official photo of the current edition.

Records and Milestones Within Reach

This World Cup will be special for "La Pulga" (The Flea, Messi's iconic nickname in Argentina). When he steps onto the pitch at Kansas City Stadium on June 16 at 22:00 local time, Messi will become one of only three footballers to have played in six World Cups, a record he shares with Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. To commemorate this achievement, he will wear a special golden badge on his jersey.

Messi's Historic Objectives:

• Goals: He aims to surpass Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals. Messi currently has 13, tied with Just Fontaine and one behind Ronaldo. Kylian Mbappé is also close behind with 13.
• Assists: He has 8 assists and aims to reach or exceed Pelé's record of 10.
• Matches: He is already the player with the most World Cup matches (26). With the new tournament format, he could extend this record to an almost unreachable level.

The captain trained normally this Saturday alongside his teammates, establishing himself as an undisputed starter for the opening match. Argentina, the current world champion and number one in the FIFA rankings, will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in the group stage.

Source: Lionel Messi's official Instagram account and Argentine National Team press reports.