Which Player Became the First to Play in 6 FIFA World Cups?

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest stage in football. Only a few players get the chance to play in it even once. Playing in many World Cups, year after year, is one of the hardest things to do in this sport. As of June 2026, one player has gone further than every player before him. Let us look at which player has played the most FIFA World Cups and how the list of top players looks right now.

Which Player Became the First to Play in 6 FIFA World Cups? 

Source: gettyimage

Lionel Messi Becomes the First Player to Play 6 World Cups. On June 16, 2026, Lionel Messi made history. He walked onto the pitch for Argentina's opening match against Algeria in Kansas City. With this match, he became the first man in football history to play in six different FIFA World Cups.

His six World Cups are 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026. This match was also special for another reason. It was Messi's 200th match for the Argentina national team.

Messi was just 18 years old when he played his first World Cup match in 2006. He came on as a substitute against Serbia and Montenegro and scored a goal within minutes. Twenty years later, he is still going strong and breaking his own records.

Who held the record of playing in five FIFA World Cups before Messi?

Before Messi reached six World Cups, the record for playing in the most World Cups was five. This record was shared by five players:

• Lothar Matthäus (Germany)

• Antonio Carbajal (Mexico)

• Rafael Márquez (Mexico)

• Andrés Guardado (Mexico)

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

It is interesting that three of these five players are from Mexico. This shows how Mexico has always trusted experienced players to lead their national team at the World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo Is Right Behind Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo is also chasing this same record. On June 17, 2026, Portugal played their opening match against DR Congo. With this match, Ronaldo also reached six World Cups, just one day after Messi.

So right now, Messi and Ronaldo are the only two players in football history who have actually played matches in six different FIFA World Cups.

There is one more name worth mentioning here. Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was also picked in his country's squad for a sixth World Cup. But he did not get a chance to play any match in two of those tournaments. So while he was selected six times, he has not actually played in six World Cups like Messi and Ronaldo.

Most World Cup Matches Played

There is another record that people often mix up with the one above. This is about the total number of matches a player has played at World Cups, not the number of tournaments.

Messi holds this record too. Before his match against Algeria, he had already played 26 World Cup matches, which was the highest ever. He had broken the old record of 25 matches, held by Lothar Matthäus, during the 2022 World Cup final. After his match against Algeria, Messi's total went up to 27 matches, taking his own record even higher.

The player with most @FIFAWorldCup appearances ever? 👀

Lionel Messi, with 26 to his name! 👏 pic.twitter.com/FodrmVF0dy

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 7, 2026

Top players who played Most Matches in FIFA World:

Ronaldo's number of matches will go up as Portugal plays more games in the 2026 World Cup.

Why Is This Record So Hard to Break?

Playing six World Cups is not easy at all. A player needs all of these things to happen together:

1. He must stay fit and free from major injuries for almost 20 years.

2. He must keep playing well enough to remain in the national team.

3. His country must qualify for the World Cup again and again.

4. The coaches and selectors must keep picking him over younger players.

Even the greatest footballers in history, like Pele and Diego Maradona, did not get to play six World Cups. This is why what Messi and Ronaldo have done is so rare.

Quick Facts

• Lionel Messi is the first player ever to play in 6 FIFA World Cups.

• His six World Cups are 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026.

• Messi also holds the record for the most World Cup matches played, with 27 matches.

• Cristiano Ronaldo joined Messi in the six World Cups club on June 17, 2026.

• The old record of five World Cups was shared by Matthäus, Carbajal, Márquez, Guardado, and Ronaldo.