Lionel Messi has become the first man to start three World Cup finals after starting for Argentina as they take on Spain in a blockbuster battle for the world’s most famous trophy.
The 39-year-old Messi, who is leading his side to back-to-back World Cup triumphs, is also the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final.
Brazilian great Cafu had previously played in three consecutive finals between 1994 and 2002, but did not start in 1994.
Lionel Messi has broken another record. This time he became the first man to start in three World Championship finals. Evrim Aydin/Anadolu via Getty Images
Argentina’s talisman has already enjoyed his most productive World Cup yet, scoring eight goals and providing four assists.
As it stands, Kylian Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals and four assists, but if Messi produces the magic he’s capable of tonight, perhaps he can finish ahead of the Frenchman or equal him on the same tally.
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FIFA rules state that if two players have the same number of goals, their number of assists will be the deciding factor. If the total number of assists is the same, then the first place will be taken by the player who played the least number of minutes in the tournament.
ESPN Global Research contributed to this report.