Lionel Messi etched his name deeper into football history on Tuesday, becoming the first player ever to appear in six separate men's FIFA World Cups.

The Argentina captain reached the milestone during his latest World Cup appearance, surpassing every other player in the history of the tournament to stand alone at the summit of one of the game's most remarkable records.

Messi, who made his World Cup debut in 2006, has now featured in every edition of the tournament through 2026 — a span that stretches across two decades and multiple generations of footballers.

The achievement adds yet another landmark to a career already overflowing with them. Messi lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy with Argentina in 2022, ending a long wait for international glory that had defined much of his career narrative.

No other man in the history of the competition has appeared across six World Cups, making this a record that may well stand for generations to come.