Lionel Messi joins Cafú as only players in three World Cup finals

Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, walked onto the pitch for a third World Cup final. Only one other human being has ever done that: Brazilian right-back Cafú, who managed the feat across the 1994, 1998, and 2002 tournaments. It’s a club with exactly two members, and the entry requirements are absurd. Messi’s third final didn’t end the way he wanted. Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain after extra time in the 2026 World Cup final, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal. The defeat denied Argentina a chance to become repeat champions following their 2022 triumph in Qatar. A record built on longevity and brilliance The timeline alone tells you how ridiculous this achievement is. Messi’s three finals span 2014, 2022, and 2026, a twelve-year window at the absolute pinnacle of international football. Cafú’s stretch covered 1994 through 2002, eight years of consistently reaching the last match of the biggest tournament on earth. But the two legends got there differently. Messi started all three of his World Cup finals. Cafú came off the bench in his first, the 1994 final against Italy, before starting the 1998 final against France and captaining Brazil to glory in the 2002 final against German...