A look at the records Lionel Messi can break in this World Cup as he gears up for a final hurrah.

The Argentinian star will be looking to get his hands on football’s most prestigious trophy this time around

Lionel Messi could or may not be playing his final World Cup. It is understandable that many fans and pundits are rooting for Argentina to win the tournament, which will undoubtedly place him among Pele and Maradona. Argentina might be the favourites, but anything can come to pass in the World Cup.

The 35-year-old will be playing in his fifth World Cup. He has a purpose, which is to win the trophy. As it confers a different degree of desire and status in football. And Messi appears to be on a crusade, aside from the several records Messi is expected to set. We have listed them below.

1) If Messi scores in this World Cup, he will become the fifth player in history to accomplish so, joining four other legends: Pele, Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

2) Lionel Messi is only the second player in Argentina’s annals to have appeared 19 times in four FIFA World Cups, trailing only compatriot Diego Maradona by three matches. And it is almost certain that he will break his record in this World Cup.

3) Lionel Messi has played in four World Cups and has scored six goals in all of them. He is only four goals shy of Argentina’s all-time best goal-scorer in World Cups, Gabriel Batistuta.

4) The 35-year-old has supplied five assists in four World Cups, behind only Maradona by three. This could be another accomplishment he can succeed if he delivers three more assists in this World Cup.

5) If Argentina go further in this tournament, Messi will become the player with the most World Cup minutes played, surpassing his current total of 1,624 minutes and Maldini’s, who has a record of 2,217 minutes played.

6) Lionel Messi has guided Argentina to 12 World Cup victories as a captain, and if he progresses to the quarter-finals this year, he will beat the record of Rafael Marquez, who now holds the record for most victories currently.