LONDON, July 14: Lionel Messi will look to write the latest chapter in his spectacular World Cup story against England in Atlanta on Wednesday.
The Press Association looks at Messi’s contributions on the game’s greatest stage.
Title encore?
Messi led Argentina to the 2022 title in Qatar, scoring seven goals, including two in the final, before they beat France on penalties.
That triumph appeared to have been inspired, at least in part, by the squad’s determination to win the title before Messi’s retirement.
But not only is he back almost four years later, but he is also once again leading from the front.
The 39-year-old already has eight goals in this summer’s tournament, level with France’s Kylian Mbappé as the leading scorer, and is eyeing a second World Cup title before surely taking his final bow.
Individual honours
The World Cup Golden Boot is one of the few accolades still missing from Messi’s personal trophy cabinet after he was pipped by Mbappé last time out, with the France striker scoring a hat-trick in the final despite ending up on the losing side.
The same two players are leading the chase this time around, with Mbappé again holding the edge on the tie-breakers of assists and fewest minutes played.
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are also close behind on six goals apiece, with nearest challenger Erling Haaland now eliminated.
Messi is a two-time winner of the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s best player, and this summer has added two records to his collection.
However, Mbappé is only one goal behind his tally of 21 World Cup goals and appears certain to become the long-term holder of that record.
The pair have surged past Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 goals this summer, while Kane has also climbed rapidly up the all-time scoring list with 14.
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have also become the first men to play in six World Cups, surpassing Lothar Matthäus’ record of 25 appearances.
Messi is set to make his 33rd World Cup appearance on Wednesday, moving six clear of Ronaldo.
Goals record – and his one weakness?
Messi scored once on his World Cup debut in 2006 and failed to find the net in the 2010 tournament, but made his mark with four goals at the 2014 event hosted by Argentina’s fierce rivals Brazil.
He scored once in 2018 before his remarkable efforts in 2022, when, aged 35, he scored more goals in that single World Cup than in his previous four combined.
He has already surpassed that total this summer.
Four penalties boosted the 2022 tally, but he missed another, and that issue has resurfaced in North America.
Messi sent a spot-kick wide in Argentina’s group-stage win over Austria and had another saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir in the round of 16, meaning he has now scored only four of eight World Cup penalties, excluding shootouts.
He has succeeded in all three of his World Cup penalty shootouts, against the Netherlands in both 2014 and 2022 and France in the latter final.
A 19-year-old Messi was an unused substitute when Argentina lost on penalties to Germany in 2006.
— BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa