'2006 to 2026': Messi's nostalgic look back as sixth World Cup beckons

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is already underway across the United States, Mexico and Canada, and Argentina's title defence is set to begin.

Lionel Scaloni's side will open their Group J campaign against Algeria in Kansas City on June 17 at 7:00am Bangladesh time. Austria and Jordan complete the group.

As anticipation builds ahead of Argentina's first match, captain Lionel Messi stirred emotions on social media with a nostalgic look back at his extraordinary World Cup journey.

"2006 to 2026," the Argentine superstar wrote alongside a series of photographs marking each of his appearances on football's biggest stage.

Twenty years after making his World Cup debut in Germany in 2006, Messi is preparing for an unprecedented sixth appearance at the tournament. He subsequently featured in South Africa 2010 under Diego Armando Maradona, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, where he finally lifted the coveted trophy.

Messi's sixth World Cup places him in elite company. He shares the record for the most World Cup appearances with Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, and will wear a special commemorative badge on his jersey during the tournament.

The 38-year-old also has several individual milestones within reach.

Messi enters the competition with 13 World Cup goals, placing him fourth on the all-time scoring list alongside France's Just Fontaine. Germany's Miroslav Klose leads the chart with 16 goals, followed by Brazil's Ronaldo Nazario with 15 and Germany's Gerd Muller with 14.

Messi scored once in Germany in 2006, failed to find the net in South Africa four years later, netted four times in Brazil in 2014, added one goal in Russia in 2018 and struck seven times during Argentina's triumphant campaign in Qatar.

However, France forward Kylian Mbappe looms as a serious challenger. Still only 27, Mbappe also has 13 World Cup goals to his name and could climb the rankings rapidly.

Another attainable target for Messi is the World Cup assist record. The Argentine has registered eight assists in the competition, just two behind Brazil legend Pele, who holds the record with 10.

Messi has already featured in two World Cup finals — in Brazil in 2014 and Qatar in 2022. Should Argentina reach another final, he would join a select group of players to have appeared in three World Cup title deciders.

That exclusive list currently includes Brazil's Pele, Cafu and Ronaldo, as well as Germany's Lothar Matthaus and Pierre Littbarski.

Mbappe, who has also played in two finals, could likewise add to his tally in this edition.

Messi already owns another World Cup record and has the opportunity to extend it further.

With 26 appearances, he has played more World Cup matches than any other footballer, surpassing Matthaus (25), Klose (24) and Paolo Maldini (23). The expanded format of the 2026 tournament allows teams to play up to eight matches, giving Messi the chance to move even further clear at the top.

He also leads the all-time standings for minutes played at the World Cup, having accumulated 2,300 minutes on the grandest stage.

As Argentina embark on their latest quest for glory, Messi's sixth World Cup is about more than defending a title. It is another chapter in a career that continues to redefine footballing longevity -- and perhaps one final opportunity to leave his mark even deeper in World Cup history.