With nothing else entering the field against Bolivia, the culé star will position himself as the player with the most matches with the jersey in the national team
Records already beaten and others to be beaten. With every game that he plays Lionel messi with Argentina, La ‘Pulga’ puts its name higher in the history of La Albiceleste. In the current Copa América, against Bolivia, the Barcelona player will conquer another important mark.
As soon as he enters the field, the culé star will position himself as the player with the most matches with the shirt in the national team in history. With 147 games, Messi will surpass Mascherano in this category.
In goals, Messi is already a leader. With 73 targets, Lionel leads the way. Batistuta, second placed and now retired, has 19 fewer. In official matches, the figure of Barcelona boasts 39 goals against 38 of the former striker.
Regarding his participation in the Copa América, Messi has more records to break. Tied with Américo Tesoriere, former Boca Juniors goalkeeper, Lionel is the Argentine player with the highest number of participations in the Conmebol tournament. Six in all. If he reaches the final, he will be the Argentine with the most matches in the tournament, tied with the Chilean Silvio Livingstone.
Playoffs and World Cup
Aiming to be in the 2022 World Cup, Messi will still have a few games in the playoffs. With 23 goals, Argentina’s number 10 seeks the top of the ranking, and is tied with his friend, Luis Suarez.
Pelé is in first place with 77 goals scored for the Brazilian National Team but Messi needs only four more targets to displace the Rio legend.
If the Argentine National Team qualifies for the Qatar World Cup, Messi could break three more records. If the Barcelona star already boasts of being the youngest Argentine to compete in a World Cup, he could surpass Maradona, who has four World Cups, and rise to the top with five.
On the other hand, Messi, with six goals, seeks to surpass Batistuta, who has 10. Nothing impossible for La ‘Pulga’, who never tires of delighting the world of football with his achievements.
Argentina is the leader of group A with 7 points and will face Bolivia this Monday at the Arena Pantanal for the last day of the group stage of the competition.