The two Argentine football legends who defined World Cups side by side
Two names, two lives, two enduring icons who have left an indelible mark on Argentina’s World Cup story. Diego Armando Maradona and Lionel Messi stand as the loudest and most influential figures in the history of the Albiceleste, each shaping the national team and the tournament in unforgettable ways.
Maradona entered four World Cups as a player: Spain 1982, Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, and the United States 1994. Messi added a fifth appearance with Qatar 2022, building on journeys that began in 2006 in Germany, continued through South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, and Russia 2018. Notably, during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Maradona served as coach of the Argentina squad while Messi carried the team on his shoulders wearing the iconic number 10 jersey.
Across those four tournaments, Maradona played 21 matches, recording 12 victories, 4 draws, and 5 losses. He appeared in 5 games in 1982, 7 in both 1986 and 1990, and 2 in 1994. Messi, in his five World Cup appearances up to 2022, reached 26 matches with 16 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses, surpassing historic records in the process. He featured in 3 games in 2006, 5 in 2010, 7 in 2014, 4 in 2018, and the potential seven in this edition.
From an offensive standpoint, Maradona and Messi produced nearly identical numbers. Maradona scored 8 times in World Cups, while Messi found the back of the net 11 times, including a crucial semi-final tally against Croatia that helped him become Argentina’s all-time top scorer in the tournament. Both players also logged 8 assists in World Cup play.
In the end, Pelusa celebrated his greatest triumph in the 1986 title and saw the throne passed to Germany four years later, while Messi witnessed Germany lift the trophy again in 2014. The two legends continue to be linked in discussions of Argentina’s World Cup journey, and their paths remain a source of inspiration as the nation pursues new glory on the world stage.
Maradona and Messi in the World Cups: the numbers tell a story
Below is a concise look at the goals, assists, matches, and titles for Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi in World Cups, reflecting their remarkable careers on football’s biggest stage.
*Statistics exclude the Qatar 2022 result against France.