Perfect Coincidence As Leo Messi’s 1000th Career Game Could Be the 2022 World Cup Final

• Lionel Messi's 1000th career match as a professional footballer could coincide with the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar
• For Messi to make his milestone memorable however, he would have to rest for four matches for his 1,000th game to coincide with the final in Qatar
• The 35-year-old will join Lothar Matthaus, Rafael Marquez, Gianluigi Buffon and Antonio Carvajal in the group of players with five appearances at the World Cup

Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi could hypothetically crown his 1,000th career game with a berth in the World Cup finals.

Messi, who has revealed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be his last, could play his 1,000th game as a professional football player in the finals of the Mundial.

The Argentina captain is ten games away from reaching the milestone but the reality on the ground is should the Albiceleste reach the final, Messi will have 14 games to play.

Lionel Messi rules out going into management as Paris Saint Germain star ponders life after retirement

Football

This includes six with PSG and eight with Argentina (seven in the World Cup and one friendly prior to the tournament).

In order to realise this feat then, the 35-year-old should rest for four matches for his 1,000th game to coincide with the final in Qatar.

According to MARCA, the former Barcelona talisman has played a total of 990 matches, including 826 with Barcelona (691 goals and 326 assists) and 48 with PSG (19 goals and 23 assists), while he also has 164 caps (90 goals and 51 assists) for the Albiceleste.

Messi reveals 2022 World Cup will be his last

Argentina captain Lionel Messi said on Thursday that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will surely be the last of his career.

Former Real Madrid star Kaká narrates how Neymar nearly left PSG for Barcelona in 2020

Football

"It's my last World Cup, surely. I feel good physically, I was able to do a very good pre-season this year, which I couldn't do last year. It was essential to get to where I am, with a good state of mind and a lot of hope," the 35-year-old told ESPN Argentina.

Messi, who is due to appear in his fifth World Cup, made his international debut in 2005 and has since won 164 caps for Argentina and is the country's all-time record scorer with 90 goals.

Messi tips five countries to win World Cup

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi has singled out five countries he believes are favourites to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Up to 32 teams are scheduled to compete for the global football showpiece when the tournament kicks off later in November.

A number of world football heavyweights will be looking to win the prestigious trophy, with France, who won the last edition in Russia, keen to defend the crown.