The two legends are the first players to feature in six separate World Cup squads, while Mexico City’s iconic stadium has become the first to host three independent editions of the tournament.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are rewriting football’s international record books at the 2026 World Cup, chasing unprecedented sixth-tournament milestones as the Estadio Azteca cements its status as the sport’s most historic venue.
Both players are the first in football history to be featured in six separate World Cup squads, spanning from 2006 to 2026. For Ronaldo, the quest is for a record that has eluded every player before him: he aims to become the first ever to score in six different World Cup tournaments. Messi, meanwhile, is extending his record for the most all-time World Cup matches played, now at 27 appearances.
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The pair are also chasing the tournament’s all-time goal record. Messi sits on 13 career World Cup goals, with Kylian Mbappé on 12, both hunting Miroslav Klose’s peak of 16. Messi also has eight tournament assists, closing in on Pelé’s historical record of 10.
The expanded 48-team tournament features an extraordinary mix of youth and experience. Scotland’s Craig Gordon is the oldest active player at 43 years and 162 days, while Ronaldo remains the oldest outfield legend at 41 years and 126 days. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, at 40 years and 333 days, has become the first goalkeeper to feature in six World Cup squads.
Mexico City’s “Cathedral of Football” cemented its immortal status on June 11 when it hosted its third opening match, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986. The Estadio Azteca is now the first stadium to host three independent World Cup editions. The ground witnessed Pelé winning his third World Cup crown in 1970 and Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” in 1986.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, engineers heavily reinforced the 60-year-old volcanic basalt foundations of the Azteca to accommodate modern video infrastructure ahead of the 2026 tournament. The historical average age of World Cup winners from 1986 to 2022 stands at 26.91 years, a benchmark that several teams in this expanded field are challenging with their blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent.
As the group stage continues, the race between Messi and Ronaldo to rewrite the record books has become one of the defining storylines of a tournament already filled with historic milestones.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 14, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
