Age is just a number: at 39, Messi leads 13 key stats before the final | OneFootball

With only 90 minutes left before the World Cup ends, Lionel Andrés Messi continues to set historic milestones on every front of the competition. The Argentine captain is already looking ahead to the grand final against Spain with the dream of lifting his second consecutive World Cup trophy. As they await this Sunday’s match in New Jersey, the Rosario star currently leads a total of 13 different statistical rankings in the tournament.

The absolute owner of the attack in 2026

The forward’s performance is not limited to being only the top scorer or the leading assist provider of this edition. Messi has eight goals and four assists, registering direct involvement in 12 goals throughout the tournament that began last June 11. No other footballer can surpass this attacking impact heading into the decisive match for the world crown.

At 39 years old, the attacker is also the player with the highest number of shots on goal, totaling 34 attempts, 18 of which were on target. His creative ability also leads the competition with 25 key passes that ended in shots by his teammates. Likewise, the Rosario native tops the aerial efficiency statistic with 21 accurate crosses completed in his appearances.

Historic records and advanced dominance

The tournament’s advanced statistics confirm the player’s continued relevance on the international stage. The Albiceleste captain leads the charts in expected goals with a metric of 5.3 and expected assists with a mark of 1.41. Added to these numbers are 44 involvements in recoveries that led to goals and 24 successful dribbles against defensive pressure.

The physical wear he causes opponents is reflected in the 16 fouls suffered, which place him as the most targeted player in the tournament. On the physical side, Messi has won 51 individual duels for possession of the ball so far in the competition. With these marks, the attacker officially became the footballer who leads the most rankings in a single edition of the World Cup.

Argentina’s unbeaten run in knockout matches

The Argentina national team carries a historic streak in head-to-head knockout ties that has remained alive since the 2019 Copa América semifinals. Since that defeat, the team managed by Lionel Scaloni has not lost a single knockout match, winning two Copa América titles, the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and the current campaign.

Next Sunday, July 19, the South American side will seek to secure its fourth star and a historic back-to-back title against the European team. If they are crowned at MetLife Stadium, Argentina will match the feat of Italy and Brazil, the only men’s national teams to have won two World Cups in a row.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.