Lionel Messi is set to approach another record with the Argentina national team. The captain currently holds the record for most goals in South American World Cup Qualifiers with 34 and is now on the verge of becoming the player with the most appearances in the competition.
Messi has played 71 matches in Qualifiers, placing him one behind former Ecuador defender Iván Hurtado, who holds the record with 72 appearances. Argentina will face Venezuela and Ecuador in the upcoming double round of Qualifiers, giving Messi the chance to equal and then surpass the record.
If he plays in both matches, Messi will reach 73 appearances, becoming the player with the most matches in South American World Cup Qualifiers history.
The current list of players with the most appearances in the competition is as follows:
- Iván Hurtado (Ecuador): 72 matches
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 71 matches
- Paulo da Silva (Paraguay): 66 matches
- Marcelo Moreno (Bolivia): 64 matches
- Claudio Bravo (Chile): 63 matches
- Alexis Sánchez (Chile): 63 matches
- Tomás Rincón (Venezuela): 63 matches
- Diego Godín (Uruguay): 61 matches
- Paolo Guerrero (Peru): 61 matches
- Luis Suárez (Uruguay): 60 matches
Another feather in his cap. Does his cap have any more space left?