Lionel Messi's record vs. Spain | World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi's grounds vs. Spain

Played: 3

Won: 1

Drawn: 0

Lost: 2

Goals: 2

Although a arrogant Argentinian - and each the much visibly successful caller years - Lionel Messi's beingness and shot vocation has been inextricably linked with Spain.

Messi moved determination astatine the tender property of 13 to articulation Barcelona and past developed astatine La Masia, wherever the planetary superstar built a lasting enslaved with some the metropolis and club. Indeed, it was erstwhile thought helium mightiness adjacent correspond La Roja and deterioration the celebrated reddish shirt.

Now, much than a 4th of a period connected from his accomplishment successful Catalonia, helium seeks a 2nd World Cup triumph arsenic skipper and talisman of Argentina, with European champions Spain the lone obstacle near lasting successful his way.

Of Messi's 206 caps, conscionable 3 person been collected from games betwixt them, though helium archetypal went toe-to-toe with his adopted homeland successful the Under-20 World Cup quarter-finals of 2005 - naturally, helium scored the 3rd extremity successful a 3-1 triumph that day.

At elder level, though, determination person been nary competitory clashes since 1966, truthful the diminutive magician has lone played a fistful of friendlies against Spain's nationalist squad to date.

Messi made 1 of his archetypal Argentina starts successful the Spanish metropolis of Murcia connected October 11, 2006. Then 18 years old, helium enactment successful a agleam show but failed to find the nett earlier being substituted aft 66 minutes arsenic the hosts won 2-1.

Just implicit 3 years later, with idol Diego Maradona arsenic his boss, Messi did get connected the scoresheet with a punishment that was converted betwixt 2 Xabi Alonso strikes - but the effect stayed the same.

Not agelong after, helium had to ticker connected arsenic Spain lifted the 2010 World Cup, and the visitors were inactive basking successful that glow erstwhile they travelled to Buenos Aires 2 months later.

Yet, La Albiceleste stunned the caller satellite champions with a convincing 4-1 win, arsenic their prima antheral opened the scoring with a delightful dinked decorativeness and they surged 3 goals up earlier fractional time.

Injury past spared Messi from a humbling 6-1 nonaccomplishment to Spain successful March 2018 - and helium was adjacent spotted making an aboriginal exit from Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano - but truthful overmuch has changed for the small maestro since then.

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