Lionel Messi may be tearing up Ligue 1 with PSG but he will have one eye on the World Cup in Qatar, and the potential of finally lifting the biggest trophy in the sport he has dominated for years.
Messi is preparing for the tournament with Argentina and has never actually won the tournament, despite lifting almost every other trophy in the sport.
The former Barcelona icon has, naturally, reached the final, but Argentina were beaten by Germany in 2014.
He will aim to go one better in Qatar, with the tournament set to begin in November, and will come to an end just before Christmas.
The 35-year-old has won 164 caps for Argentina and has scored 90 goals for his country, as per Transfermarkt, but how many goals has Messi scored at the World Cup?
How many goals has Lionel Messi scored at the World Cup?
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 27: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates his goal in the second half against Jamaica at Red Bull Arena on September 27, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey. Argentina defeated Jamaica 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Messi has played 19 games at the World Cup, going back to 2006, and has scored six goals in total.
His first goal at the tournament came in a 6-0 thumping of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, while his most recent came in 2018 when he netted in a 2-1 win over Nigeria.
Incredibly, half of Messi’s goals at the World Cup have come against Nigeria, as he also scored a brace against them in 2014.
How many knockout round goals has Messi scored at the World Cup?
SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA - JUNE 03: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team with a penalty kick during a match between Argentina and Chile as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades on June 03, 2021 in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. (Photo by Juan Mabromata - Pool/Getty Images)
None.
It’s an amazing stat but it’s true; Messi has never scored in a knockout game at the tournament.
He did provide two assists against France in 2018 but Argentina lost 4-3 and he didn’t score, while he drew blanks against Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany in 2014. He did provide an assist against the Swiss, though.
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In 2010, he had an assist against Mexico in the Round of 16 but didn’t score in the quarter-final against Germany. In 2006, they played Mexico in the same round but Messi didn’t score, and he was on the bench for the quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to Germany.
Messi will hope to add a knockout round goal to his incredible list of achievements before the end of the year.
Who will Argentina play at the World Cup?
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 10: Lionel Messi of Argentina smiles with the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the final of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Argentina are in Group C at the Qatar World Cup.
They will play Saudi Arabia, Poland and Mexico, again.
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One of the greatest players of all time will be aiming to come through the group and go deep into the competition; one has to think his real ambition will be to hold that elusive trophy aloft just before Christmas.
What a present that would be.
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