Qatar World Cup 2022: Leo Messi’s title-winning tournament in statistics
After several disappointments at international level, the Argentina forward has now lifted the Copa América and become a world champion in the space of a year and a half
Leo Messi achieved his dream of winning the World Cup in Qatar. A player many consider to the greatest of all time added the one major trophy to elude him to his staggering list of titles in Lusail. He did so at the age of 35, in what was in all likelihood his final appearance on the World Cup stage, while also seeing off the challenge of the biggest talent among his emerging successors, France forward Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick in the final.
With the World Cup secured, Messi now projects his legend over the Argentina national team. He had achieved huge success at club level, particularly at Barcelona, but with the Albiceleste disappointment had always haunted him: four major tournament finals lost, including the 2014 World Cup final against Germany. Perhaps aware that the end of his career is nearing, in 2021 and 2022 Messi has altered that reality. In the space of a year and a half, he has lifted both the Copa América and the World Cup for his country.
Club titles won by Messi
Domestic Super Cup
European Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
Domestic cup
Champions
League
At
Barcelona
With
Argentina
04
05
2
06
3
07
08
Olympic gold
medal
09
6
10
2
11
5
12
1
13
2
14
15
5
16
3
17
1
18
3
19
1
20
1st Copa
América title
21
1
At
PSG
World Cup
Winner
22
2
Club titles won by Messi
Domestic Super Cup
European Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
Domestic cup
Champions
League
With
Argentina
At
Barcelona
04
05
2
06
3
07
08
Olympic gold
medal
09
6
10
2
11
5
12
1
13
2
14
15
5
16
3
17
1
18
3
19
1
20
1st Copa
América title
21
1
At
PSG
World Cup
Winner
22
2
Club titles won by Messi
At FC Barcelona
At PSG
2
3
6
2
5
1
2
5
3
1
3
1
1
2
League
Domestic cup
Champions
Domestic Super Cup
European Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
2004
05
06
07
08
09
2010
11
12
13
14
2015
16
17
18
19
2020
21
22
Olympic gold
medal
1st Copa América title
World Cup Winner
With Argentina
Club titles won by Messi
At FC Barcelona
At PSG
2
3
6
2
5
1
2
5
3
1
3
1
1
2
League
Domestic cup
Champions
Domestic Super Cup
European Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Olympic gold
medal
1st Copa América title
World Cup Winner
With Argentina
Messi’s World Cup in goals
Messi carried Argentina on his shoulders in Qatar, a role that had been demanded of him from off the pitch. Of the 15 goals scored by Lionel Scaloni’s side at the World Cup, Messi provided seven. Four of those were from the penalty spot and three from open play, and all were decisive. From the last-16 stage onward, Messi scored in every game, including two in the final.
Leo Messi’s Qatar World Cup goals
Goals 7
Shots 32 (18 on target)
Leo Messi’s Qatar World Cup goals
Goals 7
Shots 32 (18 on target)
Leo Messi’s Qatar World Cup goals
Goals 7
Shots 32 (18 on target)
Leo Messi’s Qatar World Cup goals
Goals 7
Shots 32 (18 on target)
Messi’s World Cup in assists
The Argentina number 10, who received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, was also the most decisive player at the World Cup, taking into account goals and assists per minute played. As well as his seven goals, Messi provided three assists and several passes that either started goal-scoring moves or were fundamental within them, such as his flick in the build-up to Ángel di María’s strike in the final. Overall, Messi was worth almost a goal or an assist per 90 minutes in Qatar.
Messi’s World Cup in almost every other aspect
Messi lit up the stage in Qatar not only with goals and assists. He was among the players with most completed dribbles, key passes, pass accuracy and expected goals and assists. In reality, Messi played in a deeper role to where he usually operates and he stood out more in terms of creating chances than finishing them. Removing his penalties from the equation, his goal return was not spectacular.
By comparison, Mbappé had a better tournament in terms of pure shooting, achieving a percentile of 99 (out of 100) – higher than practically everyone else at the World Cup – in goals, expected goals and shots.
A final for the ages
Messi required a penalty shootout to crown his career, after a match that Argentina had in the bag until the 80th minute, when Mbappé took the bull by the horns. Both Argentina and France played beyond themselves in the final of their lives, determined to make history. As the graphic shows, Argentina were dominant for 60 minutes, in which they carved out a two-goal advantage, before France took the reins for 30 minutes, during which Mbappé scored twice to take the game to extra time. The additional period also ended all square after Messi put Argentina back in front from close range and Mbappé struck again, from the spot, to force a penalty shootout.
Both Mbappé and Messi scored in the lottery of the shootout, but two France misses meant that the Argentinean would complete his legend with the biggest and most difficult title of them all.
Game momentum
Which of the two teams created more dangerous attacking situations minute-by-minute. This is calculated based on the recent ball possession of each side and the probability of a possession resulting in a goal
More danger:
Argentina
More danger:
France
Kick-off
15’
1-0
L. Messi
30’
23’
2-0
Ángel Di María
36’
45’
60’
75’
2-1
K. Mbappé
80'
2-2
90’
K. Mbappé
81'
105’
3-2
L. Messi
3-3
108'
K. Mbappé
120’
118'
Source: Opta.
EL PAÍS
Game momentum
Which of the two teams created more dangerous attacking situations minute-by-minute. This is calculated based on the recent ball possession of each side and the probability of a possession resulting in a goal
More danger:
Argentina
More danger:
France
Kick-off
15’
1-0
L. Messi
30’
23’
2-0
Ángel Di María
36’
45’
60’
75’
2-1
K. Mbappé
80'
2-2
90’
K. Mbappé
81'
105’
3-2
L. Messi
3-3
108'
K. Mbappé
120’
118'
Source: Opta.
EL PAÍS
Game momentum
Which of the two teams created more dangerous attacking situations minute-by-minute. This is calculated based on the recent ball possession of each side and the probability of a possession resulting in a goal
More danger:
Argentina
More danger:
France
Kick-off
15’
1-0
L. Messi
23’
30’
2-0
Ángel Di María
36’
45’
60’
75’
2-1
K. Mbappé
80'
2-2
K. Mbappé
90’
81'
105’
3-2
L. Messi
108'
3-3
K. Mbappé
118'
120’
Source: Opta.
EL PAÍS
Sources and glossary
Expected goals. The goals that should have been scored by a player or a team based on shots taken, adding the probability that each shot would end in a goal. The calculation of expected goals takes into account the position from where the shot was taken, the type of shot and the position of the goalkeeper.
Game momentum. Which team is creating more dangerous situations in each minute of the game. This is calculated on the recent ball possessions of each team and the probability of these ending in a goal. Ball possession carries a different value depending on position on the pitch: retaining the ball between a side’s central defenders does not generate the same level of danger as advancing to the opponent’s penalty area.
Data source: Opta.