Messi’s evolving role in Argentina’s World Cup journey

By Arjun Sharma — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

Messi’s evolving role in Argentina’s World Cup journey

Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, continues to be a central figure for Argentina in the World Cup 2026. His playing style has evolved, moving away from overwhelming opponents with pace to orchestrating matches with intelligence. This adaptation was evident in Argentina’s recent semi-final match against England, where his strategic play was crucial.

England initially managed to contain Messi, with manager Thomas Tuchel opting against a traditional man-marker. Instead, Elliot Anderson was tasked with staying close to Messi when he moved centrally, while Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice compressed the space around him. This tactic limited Messi’s impact in his usual areas, and England took the lead through Anthony Gordon after the restart.

Despite England’s early success in limiting his touches, Messi’s influence grew as the match progressed. He began to drift wider towards the right touchline, creating new challenges for England’s defence. This shift in positioning opened up pockets of space elsewhere on the field, allowing Argentina to maintain pressure.

Strategic adaptation against England

For nearly an hour, England’s strategy appeared effective, keeping Messi away from dangerous central areas. However, Messi’s ability to adapt became apparent. Instead of forcing play in crowded areas, he moved to the right touchline, drawing defenders and creating opportunities for his teammates.

Argentina’s persistent attacks led to an equaliser. Messi received possession on the right, waited for England’s midfield to shift, and then delivered a precisely weighted pass to Enzo Fernandez, who scored. While Messi did not score himself, he created four chances, including two clear-cut opportunities, significantly influencing Argentina’s offensive play.

His dribbling also demonstrated this strategic shift. Against England, Messi completed nine successful dribbles out of 11 attempts, not primarily to beat defenders directly, but to manipulate their positions, create angles, and open passing lanes. This patient approach ultimately dictated the match’s tempo.

In stoppage time, Messi initiated another crucial play, keeping the ball alive before delivering a cross that led to a goal by Lautaro Martinez. This demonstrated his continued ability to spot and exploit opportunities that others might miss.

Messi’s enduring impact and upcoming challenge

Messi’s current style of play, which prioritises manipulating opponents and conserving energy, differs significantly from his earlier career. He has become a master orchestrator, allowing teammates like Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Julian Alvarez to shoulder much of the running. This allows Messi to decide when to accelerate or slow down the game.

His performance against England, where he was involved in both decisive moments, further highlighted his enduring influence. He has recorded goals across six tournaments, showcasing his impact on football’s biggest stage.

Argentina’s journey in the tournament continues. This match will see Messi, who has been a defining figure for Barcelona for a generation, face the club’s new talents, including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Dani Olmo, who are seen as carrying Spanish football into its next era.

Before reaching the semi-final, Argentina played Switzerland in the quarter-finals. In that match, Messi did not score, but goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez secured the win for Argentina, with Messi providing an assist from a corner kick.

Messi turned 39 years old during this World Cup, marking his sixth appearance in the tournament, a record he shares with Cristiano Ronaldo. Since turning 30, Messi has scored 209 club goals and 71 national team goals. Of his 21 World Cup goals, 16 have been scored after his 30th birthday.

In the 2026 World Cup, Messi has played six matches, accumulating 608 minutes on the field, and has scored eight goals and provided two assists leading into the semi-finals.

The semi-final match between England and Argentina took place on July 15 in Atlanta.

Source: indiatoday.in

Arjun Sharma

Sports Reporter