How many World Cup finals has Messi played in? Has he ever won the tournament?

Lionel Messi scored his fifth goal of the 2022 World Cup in the win over Croatia.

Lionel Messi scored his fifth goal of the 2022 tournament in the win over Croatia, becoming Argentina’s all-time World Cup top goalscorer. His 34th minute penalty and a magnificent assist for Julián Álvarez helped guide his side to the final on Sunday.

In the group stage opener against Saudi Arabia, the PSG forward was on target from the spot, before scoring from 25 yards out against Mexico. The man from Rosario broke his knockout stage duck by finding the net against Australia in the last 16 and scored against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

He made his World Cup debut in 2006, on 16 June against Serbia and Montenegro. The South American side won the match 6-0 with Messi scoring on his World Cup debut. The 18-year-old, at that time, came on as a substitute in the 75th minute and got on the score sheet by finding the back of the net with his team’s sixth goal towards full-time.

In 2010 in South Africa, he failed to score a single goal. Just four years later, in 2014, Messi and Argentina reached the final. Germany got in the way that time. Mario Gotze scored the winner for the Germans in extra time. It was heartbreak for Messi and his nation.

Things went from bad to worse in 2018. Their World Cup dreams were short-lived as they got eliminated in the round of 16 having been defeated by France. Les Bleus, inpsired by Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice, won 4-3.

Against Croatia on Tuesday, Messi became the player with the most appearances in World Cup history (25), equalling Germany legend Lothar Matthäus. His current tally stands at 11 goals from five World Cups and he will be hoping to go one better in the 2022 World Cup final.

The Argentinian has played in five World Cups but has never won the tournament. He will have a chance to change that on Sunday when La Albiceleste face the winner of France and Morocco in their sixth ever World Cup final.