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Ronaldo’s record Messi is yet to break after 2026 World Cup defeat
20th July, 2026 01:45 PM
The Argentina national team lost 1-0 to Spain in the final, failing to secure back-to-back titles at the 2026 World Cup. For Lionel Messi, the clash was not only meant to decide the new world champions but could also have marked a historic individual milestone.
Just as his professional football journey has been one of record-breaking feats, his international career, including his record-breaking feats in the 2026 World Cup, had the Argentine smashing almost every milestone in his path.
Exclusive club
An ending he did not dream of saw the Argentine maestro fail to join an exclusive club that, to date, has only one member in the entire history of football: that of players who have won at least two Ballon d’Or awards and two World Cups.
With a total of eight Ballon d’Or trophies under his belt (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023), Messi sought to join Ronaldo Nazário as the only multi-Ballon d’Or recipients to win the World Cup twice.
Ronaldo, who dominated the football world at the turn of the century, won the individual accolade in 1997 and 2002, with two World Cup winners’ medals (1994 and 2002) to his name.
Ballon d’Or finest
The superstar from Rosario will, however, bow out as the most successful player in the history of the Ballon d’Or, bringing a glorious chapter of his sporting career to a close after more than two decades of magic.
At 39, the captain bids farewell to the national team, having previously hinted that the edition in North America would be his final international appearance, though it remains to be seen if that becomes the case, as he has not yet made an official statement.
“With the peace of mind of someone who has nothing left to prove, the captain played his final World Cup matches. The statistics, the records, and the reasons why his legacy will live on forever remain,” the Ballon d’Or early tribute to the living legend read after the 2026 final.
A similar fate also haunted his national team coach, Lionel Scaloni, who fell just a win short of a second consecutive World Cup title, thereby missing out on an 88-year-old record held by Vittorio Pozzo.
The Italian manager led Italy to back-to-back titles in 1934 and 1938, remaining the only coach in tournament history to win it twice.
