The 5 Maradona World Cup brands that Lionel Messi could break in Qatar 2022

Time goes by and there is something that doesn't stop: the comparisons between Diego Armando Maradona and Lionel Messi. Statistics lovers are crouching on the eve of the next World Cup in Qatar, in which the rosarino will gain a light on the historic 10 once his call is confirmed in the Argentine national team. Leo will play his fifth World Cup and will surpass the four in which Pelusa competed (Spain 82, Mexico 86, Italy 90 and United States 94).

This record of presences will be consummated by the mere summons of Lionel Scaloni to Messi for the highest event at the country level, although there are other issues in which the Paris star Saint Germain can lead Maradona, depending on the production of his performance at the next World Cup. Lionel Messi, present at the competitions in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018, is going for four other Maradona brands wearing the World Cup Team jersey.

1. WORLD CUP PRESENCES

After frustration with his cut in the squad list for Argentina 78, César Luis Menotti took Diego Maradona to Spain 82. The Diez was not in all its glory and said goodbye to Brazil in the second round, where the national team was eliminated. The redemption came in Mexico 86, where he wrote one of the most important pages of world football. In Italy 90, dragging a serious ankle injury, he endured the pain to lead Carlos Bilardo's team to the final. And in United States 94, FIFA “cut off his legs” with positive doping after the victory against Nigeria.

More than one fantasized about Daniel Passarella's call for Maradona for France 98, but Pelusa had retired the previous year and was not in optimal physical or football condition to play his fifth World Cup, something that will achieve next November a Lionel Messi that will also displace Javier Mascherano, present from Germany 2006 to Russia 2018.

At just 18 years old, Messi was José Pekerman's bet for Germany 2006. For posterity his image remained sitting on the bench of substitutes during the elimination in the quarterfinals against the Teutons. Already on the court, frustration was replicated in the same instance in South Africa 2010 against the same rival, this time wearing the number 10 of the national team. In Brazil 2014, glory was closer than ever, but the final was left to the Germans. And in Russia 2018, in a turbulent context due to the relationship with the coaching staff, Argentina said goodbye in the round of 16 against France.

Messi will play his fifth World Cup in Qatar 2022 and will reach the line of historic Mexicans Antonio Carabajal (Brazil 50, Switzerland 54, Sweden 58, Chile 62 and England 66) and Rafael Márquez (Korea-Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018), German Lothar Matthaus (Spain 82, Mexico 86, Italy 90, United States 94 and France 98) and Italian Gianluigi Buffon (France 98, Korea-Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014).

In addition, along with Messi, the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and the Mexicans Guillermo Memo Ochoa and Andrés Guardado will reach five World Cups (all competed in the same cups as the Argentine).

2. NUMBER OF MATCHES PLAYED

Among the four World Cups in which he participated, Maradona won a total of 21 matches played. There were five in Spain 82, seven in Mexico 86, another seven in Italy 90 and only two in the United States 94. Diego is, until now, the Argentine footballer with the most appearances in the World Cups.

Behind the historical star Javier Mascherano appears with 20 and Messi with 19 matches for world cups. Further behind was Mario Alberto Kempes, with 18. If the Pulga acts in the three group stage commitments, he will become the Argentine footballer with the most matches in the history of the World Cup.

3. NUMBER OF MATCHES AS CAPTAIN ARGENTINE

After the captaincy of Daniel Alberto Passarella in the 82 World Cup in Spain, Carlos Salvador Bilardo gave the film to Maradona for Mexico 86. Diego wore the bracelet in the seven performances of the Argentine ensemble, as well as in the seven in Italy 90. Alfio Basile renewed his captaincy for the United States 94 and the Ten wore it to Greece and Nigeria. After being expelled from the Cup for positive doping, Oscar Ruggeri took it against Bulgaria and Romania. In total, Diego Armando Maradona recorded 16 matches as Argentina captain in the World Cups.

Messi was just a youth player in Germany 2006, but Maradona himself (coach of the national team) named him deputy captain in South Africa in 2010. As captain Javier Mascherano rested in the third group stage match against Greece, it was Leo who took the tape in the 2-0 victory. Already during Alejandro Sabella's cycle, the coaching staff gave responsibility to rosarino, who covered his biceps with the C band in the seven presentations during Brazil 2014. And the same thing happened under the leadership of Jorge Sampaoli in the four matches in Russia 2018. In total, Messi captained Argentina in 12 World Cup matches. If the National Team reaches the second round and the Flea plays all the duels, it will reach Maradona.

4. NUMBER OF GOALS

The top scorer in Argentina in the World Cup is Gabriel Omar Batistuta: he celebrated 10 times with wins in the United States 94, France 98 and Korea-Japan 2002. Behind his figure are Guillermo Stábile (all converted into Uruguay 1930) and Diego Armando Maradona, with 8.

Diego made his debut on the World Cup network with a double against Hungary in Spain 82. Later, in Mexico 86, he dispatched with so many against Italy in the first round, England (double in the quarterfinals) and Belgium (double in semis). With the wet gunpowder in Italy 90, he took it out with a real wonder in the 4-0 win against Greece in the United States 94. That was his last conquest in the World Cups.

Messi, who long ago surpassed Batistuta in the overall table of top national scorers, is ranked fourth in the World Cup with Mario Alberto Kempes, with 6. Leo marked Serbia and Montenegro (Germany 2006) and was at enmity with the network in South Africa in 2010. He took it out in Brazil 2014 with scores against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria (double). The sixth was in the match against Nigeria in Russia 2018.

5. NUMBER OF ASSISTS

Messi is a trinomial of Argentine footballers who achieved the highest number of assists in World Cup matches. The one who boasts the most is Diego Armando Maradona, who reached a total of 8 in the four he starred in. With 6 are Lionel and Juan Sebastián Verón, who attended three World Cup events (France 98, Korea-Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010).

LIONEL MESSI'S 19 WORLD CUP MATCHES

Germany 2006:

· Argentina 6-0 Serbia and Montenegro (entered 15′ and scored a goal)

· Argentina 0-0 Holland (starter played 70′)

· Argentina 2-1 to Mexico (entered and played 36′)

South Africa 2010:

· Argentina 1-0 Nigeria (played the 90′)

· Argentina 4-1 South Korea (played 90′)

· Argentina 2-0 Greece (captain and played the 90′)

· Argentina 3-1 Mexico (played the 90′)

· Argentina 0-4 Germany (played the 90′)

Brazil 2014:

· Argentina 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (captain, played the 90′ and scored a goal)

· Argentina 1-0 Iran (captain, played the 90′ and scored a goal)

· Argentina 3-2 Nigeria (captain, played the 90′ and scored two goals)

· Argentina 1-0 Switzerland (captain and played the 120′)

· Argentina 1-0 Belgium (captain and played the 90′)

· Argentina 0-0 Holland (captain and played the 120′)

· Argentina 0-1 Germany (captain and played the 120′)

Russia 2018:

· Argentina 1-1 Iceland (captain and played the 90′)

· Argentina 0-3 Croatia (captain and played the 90′)

· Argentina 2-1 Nigeria (captain, played the 90′ and scored a goal)

· Argentina 3-4 France (captain and played the 90′)

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