2026 World Cup: The stat that reveals the Messi mystery despite his six goals

Having scored six goals during the group stage for Argentina, Lionel Messi nonetheless posted the lowest distance covered in the entire tournament, according to Opta.

At 39, Lionel Messi is still chasing a second World Cup with Argentina, four years after the 2022 triumph in Qatar. And so far, his march toward that goal looks more like a stroll than a sprint—in every sense of the word.

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Last in the distance covered rankings

On the attacking front, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner dominated the group stage with six goals: a hat-trick against Algeria, a brace versus Austria, and another goal against Jordan after just half an hour of play. But another stat tells a different story. According to Opta, out of the 618 outfield players who played at least 90 minutes in the first round, Messi ranks... 618th in distance covered, averaging just 8.1 kilometers per match, while a top-level footballer typically covers between 10 and 12.

A strategy managed by the Argentine camp

In truth, this contrast is no surprise. For several years now, the Inter Miami star has reduced his running workload without it impacting his influence on the game. He knows exactly where and when to be decisive, conserving his energy elsewhere on the pitch. So, this approach is neither a problem nor something new for Argentina: Lionel Scaloni has built a squad specifically designed to free Messi from these physical demands—a formula that worked in 2022 and now, four years later, looks even more refined.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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