Lionel Messi will begin his 2025 Club World Cup campaign when Inter Miami take on Al Ahly, and he could break some records in the process.
Inter Miami will face Al Ahly, the African representative club, in the first match of Group A of the 2025 Club World Cup. The match will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday morning (15 June) WIB.
“It’s an exciting competition. Having the opportunity to be part of it is a pleasure,” Messi told FIFA.
“My expectations are different to those I had when playing for other teams, but I’m excited and hope to compete with the best and do well.”
Messi has won the Club World Cup three times before with Barcelona, but the changes to this year’s tournament mean he will have his work cut out, given the level of competition.
Nevertheless, the Argentine star is still considered a potential record-breaker. He may be getting older, but his ambition still burns brightly.
According to the Planet Football website, there are five major records that Messi could achieve in this Club World Cup. Here is the full review:
Top Goal Scorer:
Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the record for the most goals scored in the Club World Cup, with seven. However, he will not be participating in this summer’s tournament, which would give Messi a golden opportunity to surpass his rival’s record.
Messi has scored five goals in five appearances at the Club World Cup, meaning he is just two goals away from equalling Ronaldo’s record.
As he is guaranteed to play in at least three group stage games, Messi has a good chance of surpassing Ronaldo’s current record.
In Group A, Inter Miami will play Al Ahly, Porto and Palmeiras, with the two highest-placed teams progressing to the knockout stages.
Most assists scorer:
Messi will have to work hard to break this record, but with the Argentine playmaker around, anything is possible.
He has now provided one assist at the Club World Cup, and needs to provide at least four more in this summer’s tournament to match the record.
The record for most assists is currently held by former Boca Juniors star Neri Cardozo, while former Kashima Antlers playmaker Shoma Doi holds the record for most assists in the tournament.
Top goal+assist contribution scorer:
This is a record that is still held by Ronaldo.
In total, the Portuguese player has scored 10 goals in the Club World Cup, making him the competition’s most prolific player.
Messi has currently contributed six goals to the competition and needs to score four more this summer to equal Ronaldo’s record of 10.
It is also worth noting that Al-Hilal’s Salem Al-Dawsari has also scored six goals in the competition and could add to this tally this summer.
Oldest Goal Scorer:
Javier Zanetti currently holds this record, but Messi has the chance to break it.
The legendary full-back scored at the 2010 Club World Cup when he was 37 years, 4 months and 5 days old.
Messi is about to celebrate his 38th birthday, so if he manages to score, he will become the oldest player ever to do so in the competition.
Other players who are older than Messi, such as Luka Modric, could also break this record in 2025, but Messi has a pretty good chance of doing so.
Most Golden Ball winners
The Golden Ball is awarded to the best player at the end of a tournament.
Messi already holds the record for the most Golden Balls won at the Club World Cup, with two, but he could extend this lead if he wins again this year.
Interestingly, Ronaldo holds the record for the most podium finishes, having finished in the top three on four occasions.
Having already reached the podium three times, Messi could equal Ronaldo’s record if he finishes in the top three at this summer’s tournament.
