Most football (soccer) FIFA World Cup appearances as captain
- Who
- Lionel Messi
- What
- 27 total number
- Where
- United States
- When
- 19 July 2026
The most football (soccer) FIFA World Cup appearances as captain is 27, achieved by Lionel Messi (Argentina) between 2010 and 2026.
Lionel Messi first captained Argentina at the World Cup in 2010, during their group-stage clash with Greece. He led his country through seven games in 2014, four in 2018 and another seven games in 2022 – when he lifted the trophy as a World Cup-winning captain in Qatar. Messi extended his record at the 2026 tournament, appearing in eight games for Argentina as they returned to the final.