Lionel Messi continues to lead Argentina at the FIFA World Cup, and at the age of 39, he is aiming to guide his national team to a successful defense of their world title.
According to an analysis by BBC Sport, the secret behind Messi’s continued success no longer lies in his pace or constant dribbling, but in the way he has adapted his game over the years.
The statistics reveal that Messi spends nearly 47 percent of match time walking, covers an average of 8.2 kilometers per 90 minutes, and makes fewer sprints than he did at the previous World Cup.
Nevertheless, he continues to create more goal-scoring opportunities and influence the game more than almost any other player.
Although he runs less than he once did, Messi remains decisive with goals, assists, and the chances he creates for his teammates.
The analysis also highlights how Messi has successfully reinvented his role several times throughout his career—from a wide forward to a false nine, and later into a deep-lying playmaker—while consistently remaining among football’s elite.
Argentina will face England in the FIFA World Cup semi-final, with all eyes once again on the Argentine captain as he looks to lead his country to another historic World Cup final.
