Cristiano Ronaldo on target to break TWO Lionel Messi records at 2026 FIFA World Cup as Argentina icon undecided on involvement
Published 31/03/2026 at 12:21 GMT+1
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Cristiano Ronaldo could be on course to break two Lionel Messi records at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the latter having not yet confirmed his involvement in the tournament. Messi, who will turn 39 during the summer extravaganza, was named in Argentina’s squad for their March friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia, but is still deciding on whether to feature in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
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Cristiano Ronaldo could be on course to break two Lionel Messi records at this summer’s bumper 48-team World Cup across Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Over the past two decades, Ronaldo and Messi have dominated elite men’s football and broken countless records along the way - including the most important individual benchmarks in the sport.
Indeed, Messi has a record Ballon d’Or tally (eight) and famously netted the most strikes in a calendar year (91 in 2012).
Ronaldo holds the record for most official career goals (965), international goals (143) and UEFA Champions League goals (140).
However, despite holders Argentina having qualified for this year’s World Cup, there are doubts regarding Messi’s involvement.
The Argentinian, who will turn 39 during the tournament, has not yet confirmed whether he will feature, despite being named in Argentina’s squad for March friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia.
Should he choose not to go to the World Cup, it could provide Ronaldo with an opportunity to snatch two records from his great rival.
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Should Ronaldo go to the World Cup and Messi opt out of the competition, the Portuguese icon would become the first player in the tournament’s history to feature at six World Cup finals.
Ronaldo and Messi are tied on a joint-record five tournaments, having both featured at every World Cup since the 2006 iteration in Germany.
It’s a record they share with Germany legend Lothar Matthaus and Mexico icon Rafael Marquez.
Moreover, should Ronaldo feature in five games at this year’s World Cup, he would surpass Messi’s record tally of 26 finals appearances. Ronaldo is currently on 22 World Cup caps.
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What has Scaloni said on Messi’s World Cup involvement?
In March, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni insisted he still did not know if Lionel Messi would compete at the World Cup.
Scaloni said: "This is a question more for him, but as far as I'm concerned, you already know what I think. I will do everything I can to make sure he is there.
"I believe that he has to be there, for the sake of football, but it's not me who decides. It's up to him, how he feels in his mind and his physical condition.
"It's difficult because it's not just Argentinians who want to see him, everyone wants to see him. And then we have the dilemma as his coaches when he's there, if he's able to play the whole game or if he's not.
"I want him to be there, but he's the one who decides. I'm not going to stand here and say, 'Let's see if I pick him or not.'
"He has earned the right to decide calmly. We are not in a rush. We know that whatever he decides will be the best thing for both him and the team. We hope he'll be there but I can't say much more."
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