Lionel Messi's prolific World Cup run extended further as he scored his seventh goal of the tournament for Argentina in their recent match against Cape Verde. This latest tally places him in elite company, having been the top scorer in five of the past six World Cups. Since 1978, his seven goals would have been sufficient to lead the scoring in all but two World Cup tournaments.
Commentators lauded Messi's performance, with former Scotland forward James McFadden describing the goal as "just incredible." He highlighted Messi's perfect timing of a run onto Lisandro Martinez's pass, his first touch control, and the finesse of lifting the ball over the opposing goalkeeper. Ally McCoist on ITV called the play "genius at work," emphasizing the continuous accumulation of records by the player.
Messi has now become the first male or female player to achieve 20 career World Cup goals. Furthermore, he has scored in eight consecutive World Cup appearances, a feat unmatched by any other player. This marks the second separate World Cup where he has scored seven or more goals, having also achieved this in 2022.
His enduring effectiveness at age 39 is attributed not to relentless running, but to an exceptional understanding of space and timing. While other players actively chase the game, Messi appears to study it, scanning the pitch before receiving possession, patiently waiting for opportunities, and conserving energy until the critical moment. This strategic approach allows him to maintain his scoring rate.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Messi has also demonstrated a different facet of his game in the current tournament. McFadden observed that while Messi historically walked at times during matches to assess the game's flow, he is now actively participating in winning back possession and leading the press, albeit not with a full-intensity high energy press.