How Lionel Messi is dominating at the World Cup while walking

Lionel Messi, aged 39, has scored eight goals and provided two assists at the 2026 World Cup, tying Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot race. Despite his prolific output, FIFA tracking data shows Messi walks approximately 64% of the distance he covers per game, averaging just five miles per match — the lowest of any outfield player with at least 90 minutes played. Argentina and France have both reached the semifinals, with analysts noting that Messi and Mbappe's selective energy use works within systems that cover their defensive duties, unlike Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Erling Haaland's Norway, who were eliminated.