Lionel Messi marked his 200th appearance for Argentina during the nation’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Algeria, adding another milestone to one of football’s greatest careers. The 38-year-old captain became only the third men’s player to reach 200 international caps while extending his record as the most-capped World Cup player. A world champion, two-time Copa América winner and holder of multiple World Cup records, Messi’s latest landmark further underlines his extraordinary longevity and enduring importance to Argentina as they begin their title defence.