Lionel Messi may be wearing the most decorated shirt in football history at the 2026 World Cup, a jersey almost as ornamented as his career. He is, in fact, the only player in the entire tournament carrying four gold patches, thanks to a new badge system FIFA introduced for this edition.
Above the crest sit three World Cup stars, marking Argentina's titles in 1978, 1986, and 2022. Two of the gold markings honor the team as reigning champions: the FIFA World Champions Badge, positioned dead center on the chest, and the golden World Cup sleeve badge on the right arm, reserved for nations that have won the tournament.
The other two patches are personal to Messi. The Legacy Patch, on his right sleeve, celebrates players appearing in their fifth or sixth World Cup, a group headlined by Messi, who became the first man ever to play in six. And the Golden Ball Patch on his lower left sleeve recognizes him as the best player of the 2022 World Cup, though it's nearly impossible to spot during matches, since it sits hidden beneath his captain's armband. It was a fitting shirt for the occasion: Messi marked his opener against Algeria by scoring a hat-trick at 38.
Sources: Footy Headlines, Yahoo Sports, Sofascore.
Lionel Messi may be wearing the most decorated shirt in football history at the 2026 World Cup, a jersey almost as ornamented as his career. He is, in fact, the only player in the entire tournament carrying four gold patches, thanks to a new badge system FIFA introduced for this edition.
Above the crest sit three World Cup stars, marking Argentina's titles in 1978, 1986, and 2022. Two of the gold markings honor the team as reigning champions: the FIFA World Champions Badge, positioned dead center on the chest, and the golden World Cup sleeve badge on the right arm, reserved for nations that have won the tournament.
The other two patches are personal to Messi. The Legacy Patch, on his right sleeve, celebrates players appearing in their fifth or sixth World Cup, a group headlined by Messi, who became the first man ever to play in six. And the Golden Ball Patch on his lower left sleeve recognizes him as the best player of the 2022 World Cup, though it's nearly impossible to spot during matches, since it sits hidden beneath his captain's armband. It was a fitting shirt for the occasion: Messi marked his opener against Algeria by scoring a hat-trick at 38.
Sources: Footy Headlines, Yahoo Sports, Sofascore.
