After suggesting that the end of his international footballing career is closing in, Argentina legend Lionel Messi is almost certainly playing in his final World Cup, and possibly the final major international competition of his illustrious career.
With 166 caps already to his name, as well as 92 goals, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar is assured to go down as one of the greatest players in the history of the game, but a first World Cup title could cement his place as the all-time No.1.
Here, The Sporting News keeps track of all the data that matters most during Messi’s time at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
MORE: Lionel Messi stats 2022/23: PSG goals, assists and more
Lionel Messi 2022 World Cup stats
After performing at an incredibly high level for club side PSG so far this season, Messi enters the 2022 World Cup in fine form.
Updated after Argentina 2-0 Mexico
| Stat | Total | Rank amongst 2022 World Cup players |
| Goals | 2 | =2nd |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.15 | 7th |
| Assists | 1 | =2nd |
| Expected assists (xA) | 0.3 | =23rd |
| Shots | 6 | =4th |
| Shots on target | 4 | =2nd |
| Shot conversion rate | 33% | =6th |
| Chances created | 4 | =5th |
| Dribbles completed | 4 | =4th |
| Dribble success rate | 36% | =11th |
| Touches in opposition box | 7 | =9th |
| Successful passes | 68 | =49th |
| Passes played into the box | 13 | =8th |
| Total carries | 15 | 32nd |
| Progressive carries | 9 | =23rd |
| Duels won | 13 | =8th |
= means joint in statistic.
How many goal contributions did Messi have at previous World Cups?
At the 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi is set to join just one of a handful of footballers to have played in five different editions of the competition.
To date, he’s played 19 times across four World Cups, with his best finish coming in 2014. That time around, Argentina got all the way to the final, where they were beaten 1-0 after extra-time by Germany.
Overall, the former Barcelona man netted six goals across those four tournaments, though he’s never managed to score in the knockout phase of the competition.
Perhaps his best goal came vs. Nigeria at the 2018 tournament where he controlled the ball brilliantly before slotting past the onrushing goalkeeper in that crucial do-or-die match.
Alongside his six goals, he’s also managed to record five assists at the World Cup previously.
Lionel Messi World Cup history
| Games played | 20 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Win rate | 65% |
| Knockout matches won | 5 |
| Best finish | Finalist (2014) |
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