The Argentine is captaining the Herons in the tournament.
When Inter Miami played Al Ahly to begin the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Lionel Messi had the opportunity to break a few from multiple possible records.
Although the Argentine wizard has already won the Club World Cup three times with Barcelona, he will face a difficult task because of the level of competition and the tournament’s expansion this year. Moreover he is not young anymore.
With this, we take a look at five records that Messi could actually break at the tournament this summer.
5. All-time top scorer
With seven goals, Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the distinction for most goals in Club World Cup history. He will not be able to move ahead, though, because he won’t be at the event this summer. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, is only two goals shy of Ronaldo’s record after scoring five goals in five Club World Cup outings.
We believe Lionel Messi has a solid chance of breaking CR7’s existing record because he is assured to feature in at least two more group stage games.
4. All-time assister
Lionel Messi is going to have a difficult time breaking this record, but with the Argentine creator in town, everything is possible. Messi now has one Club World Cup assist, and in order to tie for first place, he will need to record at least four more this summer.
With five assists, former Kashima Antlers playmaker Shoma Doi and former Boca Juniors standout Neri Cardozo currently hold the competition’s record.
3. Most G/A (goals and assists)
Again, Ronaldo is now the owner of this record. With ten goal contributions overall in the Club World Cup, CR7 is the most productive player in the history of the competition.
Lionel Messi will require four more goals/assists this summer to match Ronaldo’s record of ten goal contributions in the competition, where he has only six. It’s also important to note that Salem Al-Dawsari of Al-Hilal has contributed in six goals in the competition and may increase his total this summer.
2. Oldest player to ever score in the Club World Cup
This record is now held by Javier Zanetti, but Messi has the opportunity to surpass it. The renowned full-back, who was 37 years, 4 months, and 5 days old, scored in the 2010 Club World Cup.
Lionel Messi will become the oldest participant who has scored in the competition if he finds the back of the net, since he is ready to celebrate his 38th birthday.
Of course, Messi has a good chance of breaking this record in 2025, but someone older than him, like Luka Modric, could also accomplish it.
1. Most Golden podium finishes
The Golden Ball is the prize given to the top player at the conclusion of the competition. With two Golden Balls, Messi already holds the record for most in Club World Cup history. But if he wins it again this year, he might go even further ahead.
It’s interesting to note that Ronaldo has finished in the top three four times, setting a record for most podium finishes. If Messi places among the top three players in the competition this summer, he might tie Ronaldo, who has three podium appearances.
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