Argentine superstar Lionel Messi equaled the record for the most World Cup final appearances by a player on Wednesday against England. Messi set up two goals as his team overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat the Three Lions 2-1 in Atlanta, USA, in the semifinals of the ongoing 2026 edition. Thus, the title will be decided on Sunday in a highly anticipated clash between Spain and Argentina, who have reached the final for the seventh time, and the second consecutive time. Messi led his team to the finals in 2014, which Germany won, and 2022, where he was crowned champion against the French. By reaching the final for the third time, the Argentine star equaled the record for the most final appearances by a player, sharing it with four others: Brazilians Cafu and Ronaldo, and Germans Lothar Matthäus and Pierre Littbarski. Cafu and Ronaldo reached the final in three consecutive tournaments from 1994 to 2002, lifting the trophy twice. Matthäus and Littbarski reached the final in three consecutive editions from 1982 to 1990, winning it in 1990.