Argentine star Lionel Messi and German Lothar Mateus topped the list of the most played players in World Cup history with 25 appearances each, after Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni pushed him on the team's main list against his Croatian counterpart on Tuesday in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Messi, who has scored six goals at the Qatar World Cup ( scoring four goals and making two), and who is surpassed by only France’s seven-goal star Kylian Mbappe ( scoring five goals and making two), hopes to lead Argentina’s final when Croatia face the summer of the 2018 edition at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday.

Messi could be the most involved player in tournament history if he participates in the 26th match in the World Cup, whether in the third place match on Saturday or the final on Sunday.