Messi’s evolving role on the field

By Arjun Nair / 16.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

Messi’s evolving role on the field

At 39 years old, Lionel Messi has demonstrated a remarkable adaptation in his playing style, moving away from overwhelming opponents with pace to orchestrating matches with his intelligence. This shift was evident in Argentina‘s recent World Cup semi-final match against England, where his strategic play was crucial to his team’s victory. England initially managed to contain Messi, with players like Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice limiting his influence in central areas during the first half.

Despite England taking the lead through Anthony Gordon after the restart, Messi‘s ability to adapt during the game proved decisive. He began drifting wider towards the right touchline, creating new challenges for the England defence. This tactical adjustment allowed Argentina to increase their possession and create more scoring opportunities, with Messi touching the ball 94 times by full-time, influencing nearly every significant attack.

Messi‘s performance against England showcased his role as a playmaker rather than solely a goalscorer. While he did not score in the match, he created four chances, including two clear-cut opportunities. His dribbling focused on moving defenders and creating space for teammates, successfully completing nine dribbles out of 11 attempts. This patient approach ultimately led to the equaliser, with Messi providing a pass to Enzo Fernandez, who scored.

Later in stoppage time, Messi initiated the move that led to Lautaro Martinez‘s winning goal, delivering a cross towards the far post. This performance highlighted his ability to influence the game’s decisive moments, even without directly scoring. His two assists in the semi-final contributed to his World Cup tally of goals across six tournaments.

Longevity and impact in the World Cup

Messi‘s longevity in football is notable, as he turned 39 years old during his sixth World Cup appearance. He is one of only two players to have participated in six World Cups, sharing this record with Cristiano Ronaldo. His continued high-level performance in his late thirties is a testament to his sustained excellence in the sport.

Since turning 30 years old on June 24, 2017, Messi has maintained an impressive scoring record. He has scored 209 club goals and 71 national team goals. Significantly, goals have been scored after his 30th birthday, demonstrating his impact in later stages of his career.

In the current 2026 World Cup, Messi has played six matches, accumulating 608 minutes on the field. He has scored eight goals and provided two assists, surpassing his previous best of seven goals in the 2022 World Cup. His total of goals across the last two tournaments underscores his consistent influence.

Argentina‘s journey to the semi-finals included a quarter-final victory against Switzerland. In that match, Messi did not score but provided an assist from a corner kick for Alexis Mac Allister‘s goal. Argentina secured the win with goals from Julián Alvarez and Lautaro Martínez, advancing to face England.

Looking ahead to the final

Argentina will now face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday. This match will feature Messi, who has been a defining figure for Barcelona for a generation, against Spain‘s emerging talents such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Dani Olmo. The final is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.

Messi‘s current club affiliation is with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. His focus remains on national team duty, as Argentina aims for another World Cup title.

Source: indiatoday.in