The data tumbled as Lionel Messi produced one other masterclass as Argentina booked their place in Sunday’s World Cup last.
The little magician’s penalty in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Croatia was his eleventh at World Cup finals, seeing him overtake Gabriel Batistuta as his nation’s main scorer within the competitors.
Messi, 35, additionally equalled German legend Lothar Matthaus’ all-time World Cup look report of 25 video games, a feat that may absolutely be damaged towards France on Sunday.
Lionel Messi produced yet one more masterclass as Argentina beat Croatia to succeed in the ultimate
The Argentina star (left) holds off Croatia’s uncompromising defender Josko Gvardiol (proper) en path to organising the third semi-final aim, scored by Manchester Metropolis ahead Julian Alvarez
Messi seems in direction of the ocean of blue supporting his staff (above) throughout the semi-final in Qatar
However in addition to the fairytale narrative of Messi probably profitable the one medal he most craves to cap off his profession at his final World Cup, he might additionally be a part of an elite band of gamers this Sunday.
The Paris Saint-Germain star might change into solely the ninth footballer in historical past to win the World Cup, the European Cup/Champions League and the Ballon d’Or throughout their careers.
After all, Messi is not in need of the latter two in that listing, profitable the Champions League no fewer than 4 instances with Barcelona – and he is additionally received the Ballon d’Or for the world’s greatest participant seven instances.
So he simply wants the World Cup now – most undoubtedly essentially the most difficult of the trio – to hitch the next greats within the historical past books.
BOBBY CHARLTON
World Cup 1966 (England); European Cup 1968 (Manchester United); Ballon d’Or 1966
Charlton, one of many most interesting footballers ever produced in England, was instrumental of their well-known World Cup win on house soil in 1966, after they beat West Germany 4-2 within the Wembley last.
In that very same 12 months, Charlton was awarded the Ballon d’Or, ending narrowly forward of Portuguese star Eusebio.
Two years later, he achieved extra Wembley glory when his membership, Manchester United, beat Benfica 4-1 after further time to carry the European Cup for the primary time.
Bobby Charlton (left) is pictured up towards Franz Beckenbauer within the 1966 World Cup last
Charlton lifted the European Cup when Manchester United beat Benfica at Wembley in 1968
FRANZ BECKENBAUER
World Cup 1974 (West Germany); European Cup 1974, 1975, 1976 (Bayern Munich); Ballon d’Or 1972, 1976
Beckenbauer did play within the 1966 World Cup last however his second on the sport’s greatest stage arrived eight years later when he captained West Germany to their very own success on house turf.
His function within the last was essential as he man-marked Johan Cruyff and prevented the fancied Holland facet enjoying their feted ‘Whole Soccer’ in a 2-1 win.
Beckenbauer was then a part of a dominant Bayern Munich facet that received a hat-trick of European Cups within the mid-Nineteen Seventies, thought-about such an honour on the time the German membership had been allowed to maintain the trophy.
The defender twice claimed the Ballon d’Or – in 1972, as a part of an all-German high three with Gerd Muller and Gunter Netzer, and in 1976 when he completed comfortably away from Dutchman Rob Rensenbrink within the vote.
Franz Beckenbauer lifts the World Cup after West Germany defeated Holland within the 1974 last
GERD MULLER
World Cup 1974 (West Germany); European Cup 1974, 1975, 1976 (Bayern Munich); Ballon d’Or 1970
Echoing that success was Muller, probably the most prolific strikers of all time. He truly claimed the Ballon d’Or first – in 1970 – when he was voted one of the best participant forward of Bobby Moore.
Muller then went on to attain 4 instances throughout the 1974 World Cup triumph, together with what proved to be the winner towards Holland within the last.
He additionally scored a outstanding amount of objectives throughout these three European Cup wins – eight within the 1973-74 season and 5 in every of the following two campaigns, confirming his standing as a giant recreation participant.
Gerd Muller shoots and scores West Germany’s profitable aim within the 1974 World Cup last
PAOLO ROSSI
World Cup 1982 (Italy); European Cup 1985 (Juventus); Ballon d’Or 1982
1982 was an enormous 12 months for legendary Italian ahead Rossi, then a Juventus participant, as his six objectives throughout the World Cup guided Italy to glory.
This contains two strikes within the semi-final win over Poland after which the primary of Italy’s three objectives towards West Germany within the last, sealing him the Golden Boot and, later that 12 months, the Ballon d’Or.
His European Cup triumph would come three years later however Juve’s 1-0 win over Liverpool was overshadowed by the Heysel Catastrophe through which 39 individuals died and over 600 had been injured.
Paolo Rossi (pictured) was Italy’s hero after they lifted the World Cup in Spain again in 1982
ZINEDINE ZIDANE
World Cup 1998 (France); Champions League 2002 (Actual Madrid); Ballon d’Or 1998
Zidane is maybe one of many simpler ones on this elite band to guess, actually for youthful soccer followers.
His contribution to France’s 1998 World Cup triumph in their very own yard was immense, not least his two headers towards Brazil within the last.
He was the overwhelming winner of the Ballon d’Or later that 12 months, receiving 244 votes. By comparability, second-placed Davor Suker of Croatia acquired simply 68.
However Zidane would wish to modify from Juventus to Actual Madrid with a view to win the Champions League, having beforehand misplaced two finals.
His gorgeous volley settled the 2002 last towards Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park, taking place as one of many competitors’s best-ever objectives.
Zidane’s gorgeous volley (left) helped Actual Madrid to Champions League success in 2002
Zidane was voted Ballon d’Or winner in 1998, not lengthy after France’s World Cup triumph
RIVALDO
World Cup 2002 (Brazil); Champions League 2003 (AC Milan); Ballon d’Or 1999
Unusually, it was the Ballon d’Or that got here first for Rivaldo, received after he’d helped Brazil win the Copa America in 1999.
World Cup success got here in 2002 when he fashioned a part of the unstoppable ‘three Rs’ attacking partnership with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, who powered the Selecao to victory.
Rivaldo scored in Brazil’s first 5 video games of the match however there was a controversial second when he acquired a Turkish participant despatched off for clutching his face when the ball had been kicked at his thigh.
Brazil beat Germany 2-0 within the last, courtesy of two Ronaldo objectives. Briefly an AC Milan participant, he accomplished the set after they beat Juventus on penalties within the 2003 Champions League last at Outdated Trafford.
Rivaldo (left) kisses the World Cup trophy with Ronaldo after Brazil’s 2002 win in Japan
RONALDINHO
World Cup 2002 (Brazil); Champions League 2006 (Barcelona); Ballon d’Or 2005
Sticking with the Brazilian theme, Ronaldinho was additionally a key a part of that 2002 World Cup win, famously scoring with that 40-yard lob over England’s David Seaman within the quarter-final.
Particular person recognition got here as a Barcelona participant in 2005 when he received the Ballon d’Or forward of England midfield duo Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
And the next 12 months he achieved a much-craved Champions League success when Barcelona defeated Arsenal 2-1 within the Paris last.
Ronaldinho celebrates his well-known chip of England’s David Seaman within the 2002 quarter-final
Ronaldinho received the celebrated Ballon d’Or in 2005, a 12 months earlier than Champions League success
KAKA
World Cup 2002 (Brazil); Champions League 2007 (AC Milan); Ballon d’Or 2007
With all due respect to Kaka, his declare on this ‘triple crown’ is much more spurious than everybody else. Only a teen, he performed solely 25 minutes of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph and that got here in a bunch stage recreation towards Costa Rica.
Nonetheless, the report books present he was a part of the squad and he has the medal to show it.
Larger glories would come in a while, together with his function in profitable AC Milan the Champions League in 2007, after they beat Liverpool 2-1 within the last.
That 12 months the Brazilian comfortably completed forward of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi within the Ballon d’Or polling. After all, no one knew on the time he can be the final participant aside from these two to win it till Luka Modric in 2018.
Kaka in motion for AC Milan of their victorious Champions League last with Liverpool in 2007
LIONEL MESSI?
Champions League 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 (Barcelona); Ballon d’Or 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
So, can Lionel Messi be a part of this elite firm on Sunday evening?
The ironic factor is he has received extra Champions Leagues and Ballon d’Ors than anybody else ever did.
4 instances he was king of Europe with Barcelona and he has seven Ballon d’Or wins, together with 4 years in succession between 2009 and 2012.
Messi kisses the Champions League trophy after Barcelona overcame Juventus in 2015
The Argentine star is actually conversant in the Ballon d’Or, having received the award seven instances
