5 World Cup records both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will never break

#4 Most tournaments as captain

Rafael Marquez at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

The record for the most World Cup tournaments as captain is currently held by Mexico’s Rafael Marquez, who wore the armband for his country at the World Cup five times. The former Barcelona defender was selected as the skipper of the team for the first time in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, by the then Mexica coach Javier Aguirre, despite the fact that the player was just 23 years old.

That was the start of something special, as Marquez went on to lead the Mexican team in 2006, 2010 as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he became only the third footballer in the world to play in five World Cups and also the first-ever to play in five as the captain of the team.

Messi has been wearing the armband for the Albeceleste permanently from 2011 when Alejandro Sabella took over as the coach of Argentina and has been to two FIFA World Cups as the Captain. He has represented Argentina in four World Cups so far, the same as Ronaldo for his nation.

The Portuguese, however, has worn the armband in 3 World Cup tournaments since he was handed the responsibility by Carlos Queiroz, who was in charge of the Portugal football team, in 2008.

Ronaldo will be 37 during the 2022 Qatar World Cup and would need to play into his 40s to touch this record. Messi will also have to achieve something similar to draw level with Marquez. As such, it is safe to say that neither player will be breaking this record in their lifetime.