Lionel Messi’s World Cup career has spanned six tournaments, from his debut as an 18-year-old in Germany in 2006 to his latest appearance in 2026. The Argentina captain scored his first World Cup goal in 2006, led his country to the final in 2014, and completed his quest for soccer’s biggest prize by winning the title in 2022. He also earned the Golden Ball in Qatar as the tournament’s best player. Messi reached another World Cup final in 2026, but Argentina lost to Spain 1-0. Messi joined Cristiano Ronaldo as the first men to play in six World Cups.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Netherlands’ Khalid Boulahrouz, left, and Argentina’s Lionel Messi challenge for the ball during the World Cup Group C soccer match in Frankfurt, Germany, June 21, 2006. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski, File)
Netherlands’ Khalid Boulahrouz, left, and Argentina’s Lionel Messi challenge for the ball during the World Cup Group C soccer match in Frankfurt, Germany, June 21, 2006. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi, right, eyes the ball during a challenge with Greece’s Loukas Vyntra during the World Cup group B soccer match in Polokwane, South Africa, June 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, right, eyes the ball during a challenge with Greece’s Loukas Vyntra during the World Cup group B soccer match in Polokwane, South Africa, June 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side’s second goal against Bosnia during the group F World Cup soccer match at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side’s second goal against Bosnia during the group F World Cup soccer match at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)
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Netherlands’ Nigel de Jong, behind, challenges Argentina’s Lionel Messi during the World Cup semifinal soccer match in Sao Paulo Brazil, July 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Netherlands’ Nigel de Jong, behind, challenges Argentina’s Lionel Messi during the World Cup semifinal soccer match in Sao Paulo Brazil, July 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi reaches for the ball during the group D match between Argentina and Croatia at the World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, June 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi reaches for the ball during the group D match between Argentina and Croatia at the World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, June 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi runs for the ball with Nigeria’s Bryan Idowu, left, during a group D World Cup match in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi runs for the ball with Nigeria’s Bryan Idowu, left, during a group D World Cup match in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Mexico during the World Cup group C soccer match in Lusail, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Mexico during the World Cup group C soccer match in Lusail, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates at the end of the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match against the Netherlands in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates at the end of the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match against the Netherlands in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi greets cheering fans after his team’s 3-0 win at a World Cup semifinal soccer against Croatia in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi greets cheering fans after his team’s 3-0 win at a World Cup semifinal soccer against Croatia in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi heads the ball next to France’s Kingsley Coman, right, during the World Cup final in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi heads the ball next to France’s Kingsley Coman, right, during the World Cup final in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after receiving the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament during the awards ceremony after Argentina defeated France at the World Cup final in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after receiving the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament during the awards ceremony after Argentina defeated France at the World Cup final in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates with the trophy before fans after winning the World Cup final soccer match against France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates with the trophy before fans after winning the World Cup final soccer match against France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi walks on the pitch during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi walks on the pitch during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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