As England prepares to face Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, their defenders will encounter a formidable challenge in Lionel Messi. Not only is he widely regarded as the greatest footballer ever, but his distinctive playing style adds another layer of difficulty for opponents.
The 39-year-old Messi is known for conserving his energy throughout most matches, which allows him to become a dynamic force when opportunities arise. His ability to exploit seemingly innocuous spaces makes him a nightmare for defenders, as he comes alive at critical moments.
This unique approach has contributed to Messi’s impressive statistics in the tournament, where he has performed remarkably compared to his peers. No player has matched his combination of shots and key passes after carrying the ball at least five meters, totaling 22 significant actions.
Despite not scoring or assisting in the quarter-final against Switzerland, Messi’s running data highlights his distinctiveness among elite forwards. According to FIFA’s tracking metrics, he covered 6,655 meters at the slowest speed category of 0-7 kilometers per hour (km/h), outpacing every player on both teams.
This low-speed running accounted for 64.8% of his total distance, a stark contrast to figures from Harry Kane (40.5%), Lamine Yamal (45.4%), Kylian Mbappé (52.6%), and Erling Haaland (55.7%). While Messi’s slower pace is notable, his acceleration and sprinting ability remain competitive.
Interestingly, the percentage of Messi’s running classified as sprinting (20 km/h or more) aligns closely with that of younger forwards. Although he records fewer total sprints, the difference is not as significant as one might think. In the quarter-final, Messi averaged 85 sprints per 90 minutes, exceeding Haaland’s 74 and coming close to Mbappé’s 97.
When it comes to top speed, Messi has not lost his edge. His maximum sprinting speed during this World Cup reached 30.9 km/h, faster than the top runs recorded by Lautaro Martínez (30.5 km/h) and Alexis Mac Allister (30.2 km/h), despite their youthful advantage. This speed also closely trails the best performances from Kane (31.4 km/h) and Jude Bellingham (31.1 km/h).
For England, a silver lining is that their fastest player, Nico O’Reilly, clocked in at 35.6 km/h, potentially positioning him to challenge Messi’s movements. However, speed alone does not suffice; tracking Messi and determining the right moments to engage him presents a far more complex challenge.
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