Lionel Messi played his 25th World Cup game against Croatia in the semifinals, drawing level with record holder Lothar Matthäus.
Messi and Matthäus each needed five tournaments to reach their best. The six-time world footballer would put himself at the top by playing in the final or the match for third place.
“I don’t begrudge him,” said Matthäus of “Bild”. Messi is “a great athlete with an extraordinary career. The most complete footballer of our time.”
The 61-year-old also played his 25th World Cup game against Croatia. In the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals, the DFB team lost 3-0 in Lyon under national coach Berti Vogts.
With his converted penalty kick to make it 1-0 (34th), Messi increased his World Cup haul to eleven goals. In doing so, he surpassed Gabriel Batistuta and is now Argentina’s sole World Cup record goalscorer.