The 2026 World Cup semi-finals bring together current stars and legendary names who have become accustomed to appearing in the penultimate stage of the tournament, as Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappé joined the list of players who have reached this round in three different editions, while Germany's Miroslav Klose remains alone at the top with his presence in four semi-finals between 2002 and 2014. Messi has become one of the players who have appeared more than once in the World Cup semi-finals, having also advanced with Argentina to the 2014 semi-final when the team beat the Netherlands on penalties, and he also appeared in the 2022 semi-final, leading his team to a 3-0 victory over Croatia. Messi is not the only player from the current generation to have appeared in the semi-final many times, as Frenchman Kylian Mbappé has been present in three different World Cup semi-final editions. Mbappé played for France in the 2018 semi-final, when Les Bleus beat Belgium 1-0, and he played again in the 2022 semi-final, leading his country to a 2-0 win over Morocco, before qualifying for the 2026 World Cup semi-final currently underway in the United States, Canada and Mexico. As for German Miroslav Klose, he is the player with the most appearances in World Cup semi-final matches, having played four times in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. Klose played for Germany in the 2002 semi-final when the team beat South Korea 1-0, and he was present in the 2006 semi-final when Germany lost to Italy 2-0, in addition to the 2010 semi-final loss to Spain 1-0, while Germany beat Brazil 7-1 in the 2014 semi-final. German Bastian Schweinsteiger also played in three World Cup semi-finals, coming on as a substitute when Germany lost to Italy 2-0 in the 2006 semi-final, and he also played in the German loss to Spain in 2010, before the win over Brazil in the 2014 semi-final, along with his compatriot Philipp Lahm, who played with him in the same matches in 2006, 2010 and 2014. German Lothar Matthäus also played in three World Cup semi-final editions historically, playing in the 1982, 1986 and 1990 semi-finals, and he won the title with Die Mannschaft in 1990, but he remained on the bench in the 1982 semi-final against Italy. Among the older players is the legendary star Pelé, who played for Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Pelé scored two goals in the 1958 semi-final against France, but he only played in two matches in the 1962 World Cup before suffering an injury and not playing in the semi-final, while he was present in the 1970 semi-final against Uruguay. It is worth noting that Brazilian Cafu appeared in three World Cup semi-final editions in 1994, 1998 and 2002, but he did not play or come on as a substitute in the 1994 semi-final against Sweden, only remaining on the bench for the entire match, while he played regularly in the 1998 and 2002 editions.