New Delhi: Lionel Messi is poised to headline the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as Inter Miami face Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the tournament opener. Already a three-time Club World Cup champion with Barcelona, the Argentine maestro now eyes to shatter records in the expanded edition of the competition. With tougher opposition and a revamped format, Messi’s path won’t be easy, but history could await him once again on the global stage.
Let’s take a look at the five records that he could break in the tournament this summer.
All-time top soccer
Currently, Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals in Club World Cup history. He has scored seven goals, and this year he won’t be at the tournament, making it possible for the Argentine star to surpass CR7’s current record.
Messi has scored five goals in five Club World Cup appearances, which means that he is just two goals behind Ronaldo. He is guaranteed to play at least three group stage matches against Al Ahly, Porto and Palmeiras, and holds a good opportunity to help his side advance to the knockout stages.
All-time top assister
Breaking this particular record won’t be easy for Lionel Messi, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s him. Heading into the 2025 Club World Cup, the Argentine legend has just one assist to his name in the tournament’s history. To catch up with the current joint-record holder,s Neri Cardozo of Boca Juniors fame and Kashima Antlers’ Shoma Doi, Messi will need at least four assists to draw level and five to stand alone at the top.
It’s a big ask, especially considering the level of competition this time around. While playing for Inter Miami, Messi has been providing assists at a rate of one every 204.9 minutes. That’s impressive, but he will need to turn it up a notch if he has to make history once again.
Oldest player to score in the tournament
Javier Zanetti holds the record for the oldest player to ever score at the Club World Cup. Messi has the golden chance to break it. The legendary Argentine in the 2019 Club World Cup at the age of 37 years, 4 months and 5 days.
Messi is set to celebrate his 38th birthday during the tournament, and if he manages to score, he will become the oldest player to ever score in the competition’s history. Of course, someone else older than him can also break this record, like Luka Modric playing his last event with Real Madrid, but the Argentine also holds a decent chance of achieving the feat.
Most combined goals and assists
This record is also held by the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. In total, he has 10 goal contributions in the Club World Cup, which makes him the most creative player in the competition’s history. Messi currently has six goal contributions to his name and needs to score four more to equal CR7’s record.
Other than him, Al-Hilal’s Salem Al-Dawsari has also scored six goal contributions in the tournament and could add to his tally, but with the Argentine playmaker in town, there are chances he can even surpass Ronaldo’s record.
Most Golden Ball podium finish
The Golden Ball is awarded to the standout performer of the Club World Cup. Lionel Messi already sits at the top of the list with two Golden Ball wins to his name, the most by any player in the competition’s history. If he manages to claim the honour once more this year, he will extend that lead and set the bar even higher for future generations.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo holds a different kind of record in the tournament. He’s been named among the top three players on the Golden Ball podium for a record four times, which is more than anyone else. Messi has finished in the top three on three occasions so far and so a strong performance this year could see him draw level with his long-time rival.
Discover five major Club World Cup records Lionel Messi could break in 2025 as he leads Inter Miami on football’s biggest club stage. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
