Lionel Messi has evolved his playing style significantly since his debut for Barcelona in 2003, adapting to remain dominant at the age of 39 during his sixth World Cup. At this tournament, he has been creating more but moving less, walking 47% of the distance he covers—the highest percentage of any outfield player. He averages just 2.7 sprints per match, compared to 5.3 four years ago, yet he leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals and three assists. Messi has reinvented himself multiple times throughout his career, from playing on the right wing to becoming a central playmaker. Under Pep Guardiola in 2009, he was moved from the wing to a central forward role, where he could drop deep and receive the ball. England will face the challenge of stopping Messi, who has scored or assisted in 15 of his past 16 World Cup appearances, with only Poland managing to prevent him from doing so.
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