Lionel Messi has been rewriting the record books since his rise at FC Barcelona, expanding his legacy with Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentina national team, and now leaving an unprecedented mark at Inter Miami and in Major League Soccer. With his team advancing to the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Messi has extended a unique and untouchable record—one even Cristiano Ronaldo can no longer match.
Inter Miami defied expectations in the group stage, holding their own against African powerhouse Al Ahly, European contender Porto, and Brazilian giants Palmeiras. With one win and two draws, the Herons finished second in Group A—good enough to advance and good enough to keep Messi’s remarkable streak alive.
With this latest accomplishment, Lionel Messi has never been eliminated in the group stage of any tournament across his entire professional career. Despite Inter Miami entering the Club World Cup as underdogs, the Argentine legend maintained one of the most astonishing statistical feats in world soccer.
Across all competitions—at both the club and international level—Messi has now successfully advanced from the group stage in 33 consecutive tournaments: 19 UEFA Champions League campaigns, 7 Copa Americas, 5 World Cups, 1 Leagues Cup, and now the 2025 Club World Cup.
Even at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Messi advanced from the group and went on to win the gold medal—adding to a decorated list of achievements. No other player in the history of the game has matched that volume of group-stage appearances without a single exit, further cementing Messi’s place in the sport’s pantheon.
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Lionel Messi’s message after Inter Miami’s historic qualification to Round of 16 for the Club World Cup
Looking ahead, Messi is expected to compete in at least two more group-stage tournaments: the 2025 Leagues Cup with Inter Miami, and, if fit, the 2026 World Cup with Argentina. Still performing at a high level at age 38, the question remains—can he keep the streak alive, or will time finally break the run?
Ronaldo falls short of Messi’s group-stage streak
Cristiano Ronaldo—dubbed “Mr. Champions” for his dominance in UEFA competitions—has also made a habit of reaching tournament finals. But when it comes to group-stage consistency, his resume doesn’t match Messi’s.
Ronaldo has been eliminated in the group phase five times in his career: at the 2004 Olympic Games, the 2005–06 Champions League with Manchester United, the 2014 World Cup, and the 2020–21 and 2022–23 editions of the UEFA Nations League.
While Ronaldo’s career is defined by major titles and personal accolades, this is one milestone he’ll never be able to reach. Messi’s spotless group-stage record remains unmatched—and unreachable.
