Lionel Messi gets chance to close in on another Ronaldo record during international break

[p]The cancellation of the Finalissima left both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] scrambling to fill their schedules for the FIFA international window. The Albiceleste have taken the chance to keep facing lower-ranked opponents.[/p][p]Lionel Scaloni's world champions are set to host [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mauritania/Q5QPxhPn/"]Mauritania[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zambia/zBS458hb/"]Zambia[/a] at La Bombonera. These fixtures against significantly weaker sides are expected to provide [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] with a prime opportunity to swell his international goal tally. In doing so, he will look to chip away at the lead held by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Cristiano Ronaldo[/a], who is sidelined for this window through injury and currently sits on 144 goals for the Portuguese national team.[/p][p]Should the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Inter Miami[/a] playmaker find the net against both nations, he will also narrow the deficit in another category dominated by the legendary duo: the record for goals scored against the highest number of different countries.[/p][p]The Portuguese icon has amassed his 144 goals against 48 different opponents, while Messi's record for Argentina stands at 115 goals (29 behind) against 39 opponents (nine behind). The former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] talisman could, therefore, increase his 'victim' list to 41 countries by the end of this FIFA window.[/p][p]Among active players with at least 40 international goals and 33 different opponents, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the global standings with 48. Heading into this break, Messi and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewandowski-robert/MVC8zHZD/"]Robert Lewandowski[/a] were deadlocked on 39.[/p][image alt="Lionel Messi's most recent season stats" id="a8490ee4-fbf5-4061-b0d4-4a8f01237984" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="8349232f-9f51-4da5-8488-7374fa298405" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]While the Argentine can add two to his tally, the Polish marksman cannot extend his record, as although he scored in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/poland/2HzmcynI/"]Poland[/a]’s 2-1 victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/albania/ELP2K4oB/"]Albania[/a], he had already scored against them, as he had against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a], his national team’s next opponents on Tuesday in their bid to secure a place at the World Cup.[/p][p]Following this elite top three, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukaku-romelu/dCkG0Iw0/"]Romelu Lukaku[/a] has struck against 37 national teams, but with fixtures against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]United States[/a] - both of whom he has already scored against - the Belgian will not be adding to his list. Conversely, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/son-heung-min/Mgg9oPeM/"]Son Heung-Min[/a], currently on 35 opponents, has the chance to improve his standing as he faces [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/naHiWdnt/"]Austria[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/G2FRjBgn/"]Ivory[/a] Coast, two nations yet to concede to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/K6Gs7P6G/"]South Korea[/a] star.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a] finds himself in a similar position, having netted against 34 countries throughout his career. However, his chances of climbing the rankings have been hampered by Tuchel ruling him out of the opener against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uruguay/xMk44orG/"]Uruguay[/a], leaving the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] captain with only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] as a potential new addition to his list of 'victims'.[/p][p]Rounding off this top 10 are two players tied on 33 different opponents: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yarmolenko-andriy/O00J9ZLN/"]Andriy Yarmolenko[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salah-mohamed/08FBycgB/"]Mohamed Salah[/a]. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dzeko-edin/zilGmgZq/"]Edin Dzeko[/a], meanwhile, has already played in this international break against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wales/YcUP0Nqp/"]Wales[/a] and took the opportunity to score, bringing his total to 34 different opponents, level with Harry Kane.[/p]