WASHINGTON, July 4. /TASS/. Argentina striker Lionel Messi was the first to have played 30 in the World Cup.

He achieved this thanks to his entry into the starting lineup for the game of round of 32 against the Cape Verdean team.

Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second (26), the Portuguese national team has already held a meeting at this stage.

Messi is 39 years old, and since 2023 he has been playing for the North American Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami. In Europe, the Argentine played for Paris Saint-Germain of France and Barcelona of Spain, where he won the Champions League four times, the UEFA Super Cup and the World Club Championship three times each. The striker is the world champion (2022), silver medalist of the World Championship (2014), Olympic champion (2008) and two-time winner of the America's Cup (2021, 2024). Messi holds the record for the number of Golden Balls (8).

The World Cup is being held in the US, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will end on July 19.