Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: ♦ The only player in World Cup history to score 21 goals and play the most matches (33)
♦ Top scorer with 8 goals and 4 assists in the current tournament
♦ The only footballer to score or assist in 11 consecutive World Cup matches, the most in 60 years ♦ Messi surpassed Pele and Antoine Griezmann with 10 assists in the World Cup knockouts
♦ The only star to contribute to 33 goals in the most 33 matches in World Cup history (21 goals and 12 assists)
♦ Messi has reached the finals of 8 of the 13 major tournaments for Argentina
♦ Messi leads the way in creating goal chances with 99 (25 in the current tournament), Maradona is second with 71
♦ Played in the World Cup semi-finals as the third oldest outfield footballer (39 years and 21 days)
♦ Argentina will be the second footballer after Brazil's Cafu to play in three World Cup finals
♦ Argentina will play in the World Cup finals for the first time Spain
♦ In 14 matches in all competitions, the two teams have won 6, drawn 2
♦ Argentina have a chance to win their second consecutive World Cup after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) ♦ Argentina have reached two consecutive World Cup finals after 1986 and 1990
♦ They have scored at least 2 or more goals in 13 consecutive World Cup matches (Uruguay is second with 11 matches)
♦ The Albiceleste are the only team to score the winning goal in added time more than once in a tournament ♦ Argentina have reached the World Cup final seven times, equal to Brazil's second most (Germany eight times)