Who is Argentina team captain? Lionel Messi set to raise first World Cup trophy if Albiceleste win 2022 final

Toby Miles

Who is Argentina team captain? Lionel Messi set to raise first World Cup trophy if Albiceleste win 2022 final image

The image of Argentina's captain lifting the 2022 World Cup will become instantly iconic, should La Albiceleste end France's reign on Sunday. 

It would be the moment Argentina ended its 36-year wait for World Cup glory and became triple champions. But that's not all. 

Victory will assure Argentina's skipper equalled the great Diego Maradona's 1986 achievement, when the great man drove his country to glory.

Before he can think of lifting that glittering golden trophy, captain Messi faces a monumental task to inspire his nation against Kylian Mbappe and Co.

MORE: FIFA World Cup final 2022: Argentina vs France prediction, odds

Who is Argentina team captain?

Lionel Messi wears the armband for Argentina. Although he's not a stereotypical captain personality, it's hard to imagine a more inspirational figure that could lead a World Cup tilt. 

Messi leads by example, evidenced at Qatar 2022. His mesmeric talent has been at the heart of all Argentina's match-winning moments.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner took the Argentina armband in August 2011 before captaining his nation at three consecutive World Cups. 

He is Argentina's record goalscorer (96), appearance-maker (171) and the squad's most senior outfield player at 35-years-old. Playing his fifth World Cup, Sunday's final will be the last time we see Messi on football's biggest stage.

Copa America 2021 Messi Argentina
Getty Images

Where does Lionel Messi play?

When Messi isn't on international duty, he works his magic for French giants Paris Saint-Germain. 

The forward joined PSG ahead of the 2021/22 season after a transfer saga that gripped the footballing world and beyond. 

Messi is Barcelona's greatest player across their history of success. He was talent-spotted by the club and rose through their academy to lift four Champions Leagues. He scored 672 goals in 778 games there.

However, Messi walked away when Barcelona plunged into a financial crisis, following a much-publicised row with the Catalan club's board.

Messi lifted the Ligue 1 title in his first season at PSG but the French club will be hoping the Argentina captain can end their Champions League search.

MORE: Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe: Records, stats ahead of World Cup final clash

Lionel Messi trophies

A glance at Messi's individual stats and trophy haul is enough to blow anyone's mind. His relentless success is only matched by Cristiano Ronaldo across the game's entire history

For a long time, Messi was considered unable to bring his magic touch to Argentina duty, despite reaching six major finals. Lifting the 2021 Copa America crushed those claims. 

Trophies won at Barcelona

Honour Titles Seasons
La Liga
(Spanish league)
10 2004/05, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11,
2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19
La Liga Player of the Year 6 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11,
2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15
La Liga top scorer
(Pichichi trophy)
8 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17,
2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21
Copa del Rey
(Spanish Cup)
7 2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15,
2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2020/21
Supercopa de Espana
(Spanish Super Cup)
7 2006, 2009, 2010,
2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
UEFA Champions League 4 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2014/15
UEFA Super Cup 3 2009, 2011, 2015
FIFA Club World Cup 3 2009, 2011, 2015
European Golden Boot
(Top scorer in Europe)
6 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13,
2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19
Ballon d'Or
(World Player of the Year)
7 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
FIFA World Player of the Year
(Awarded from 1991-2015)
1 2009
FIFA The Best Award
(Player of the Year est. 2015)
1 2019

Trophies won at PSG

Honor Titles Seasons
Ligue 1
(French league)
1 2021/22
Trophee des Champions
(French Super Cup)
1 2022

Trophies won with Argentina

Honor Titles Seasons
Copa America
(South American title)
1 2021
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
(Best player of tournament)
1 2014
Finalissima
(UEFA-CONMEBOL trophy)
1 2022
Olympic gold medal 1 2008
FIFA Under-20 World Cup 1 2005
Argentina Player of the Year 14 2005, 2007-2013,
2015-2017, 2019-2021

Toby Miles

Toby Miles Photo

Toby joined Sporting News in 2022 ahead of the World Cup, bringing previous sports writing experience at MailOnline and UEFA. An Englishman and Chelsea fan still fuming about Frank Lampard's 2010 ghost goal but never afraid to say 'It's Coming Home'.