.png)
1 day ago
7
Last Updated:July 16, 2026, 02:51 IST
Lionel Messi is the first captain in FIFA World Cup history to lead his team to three finals.
Lionel Messi becomes first player to captain a team in three FIFA World Cup finals. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Argentina produced a superb comeback once again on Wednesday (Thursday IST) to secure a 2-1 win over England in the second semifinal and book their place in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The South American giants suffered a setback when Anthony Gordon scored the opening goal for the Three Lions in the 55th minute of the match, but Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scored in the 85th and 90+2nd minutes, respectively, to seal the deal for the defending champions.
The win over England set Argentina’s date for the title clash against Spain, and it also helped Lionel Messi enter his name in the history books. The 39-year-old footballer is the first captain to lead his team to three FIFA World Cup finals.
Before taking Argentina to the final of the ongoing FIFA World Cup edition, Messi had also led them to the finals of the 2014 and 2022 editions and ended up lifting the trophy in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Lionel Messi as captain in FIFA World Cup
| EDITION | MATCHES | WINS | DRAWS | DEFEATS | FINAL POSITION |
| 2014 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2nd (Losing finalist) |
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16th (Exit in Round of 16) |
| 2022 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Winners |
| 2026 | 7* | 7* | 0 | 0 | Finalist (Result awaited) |
In the past, multiple captains have led their teams to two FIFA World Cup finals, but Messi is the first and only player to captain his team in three FIFA World Cup finals.
Argentina’s entry into the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 means that they have qualified for back-to-back finals for only the second time in their history. Argentina had earlier reached consecutive FIFA World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990.
In the 1986 and 1990 editions, Diego Maradona was the captain of the Argentina team, and Argentina’s win over England helped Messi equal Maradona’s feat of leading the nation to back-to-back FIFA World Cup finals.
The other captains to lead their teams to back-to-back FIFA World Cup finals are Dunga (Brazil – 1994 and 1998) and Hugo Lloris (France – 2018 and 2022).
Handpicked stories, in your inbox
A newsletter with the best of our journalism
Key Questions Answered
Lionel Messi has set numerous FIFA World Cup records, becoming the first captain to lead his team to three finals. He is the most-capped player with 28 appearances and holds the record for most wins with 18.
Lionel Messi's legacy is significantly impacted as he becomes the first captain to lead a team to three FIFA World Cup finals.
Argentina has reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. They previously won the World Cup in 2022 and were finalists in 2014. Only Brazil and Italy have successfully defended the World Cup crown. Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico hopes to hold onto the trophy.
About the Author
Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor
Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist at CNN-News18, where he has been covering cricket, football, and major sporting events from around the world since July 1, 2024. Driven by a passion for storytelli...Read More
News sports football Lionel Messi Creates New FIFA World Cup Record, Becomes First Player To...
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Read More
English (US) ·