Lionel Messi peaking at the perfect time for Argentina’s World Cup Campaign
Lionel Messi has scored all kinds of goals, and plenty of them, over the course of his career, but one kind of goal in particular stands out as his calling card and it was the kind he scored to send Argentina on their way to another World Cup victory.
As has become customary over the years, Messi started the attack in the centre of the pitch before spreading the play out wide. From there, he delayed his run to the penalty spot, arriving at the right time to sweep home a finish with his left foot from a cut back. Everyone knew the sequence Messi had drawn up in his head, yet there was no way to stop it.
There has been no way to stop Messi in general at this World Cup. The 38-year-old has netted five goals in just two games to become the competition’s all-time top scorer, surpassing the record previously held by Miroslav Klose. Messi now has 18 World Cup goals to his name and there’s still plenty of time for him to add to his tally.
Not so long ago, there was doubt over Messi’s role for Argentina leading into this summer’s tournament. He limped off in Inter Miami’s final match before the World Cup break citing an ambiguous fatigue injury that had many speculating over the true fitness levels of a player Lionel Scaloni needed in peak condition.
Some also had questions over the level Messi is competing at in MLS. When Argentina last won the World Cup in 2022, Messi was still at Paris Saint-Germain in a Big Five league. Now, he’s operating in a league that is outside the best in the world. It was discussed whether MLS would keep Messi sharp enough to remain Argentina’s main man.
So far, though, all concerns have been allayed by Messi’s first two performances in the USA. He is leading the scoring charts ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and everyone else, finishing all of Argentina’s five goals at the 2026 World Cup so far. He would have scored six out of six had Messi not scuffed a penalty wide against Austria.
Scaloni may choose to rest Messi for Argentina’s first group game against Jordan on Saturday considering the defending champions are already through to the last 32 as Group J winners. It would make sense to preserve the 38-year-old for the latter rounds of the competition.
Far from limiting Messi at the 2026 World Cup, it’s possible his decision to join Inter Miami has allowed him to peak at the right time for the tournament. In MLS, he has the freedom to manage his own minutes. He’s also only a few months into his club season rather than being at the end of a gruelling European league season.
There were signs that Messi was gearing up for another blockbuster World Cup. He signed off for the World Cup break by contributing 12 goals and assists in just five matches. It was reported that he was doing double training sessions with Argentina and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul to be ready for the summer.
In the two games he has played so far at the 2026 World Cup, Messi has been at the peak of his powers. His movement has been explosive and his finishing efficient, albeit with the notable exception of the missed penalty kick against Austria. He is dominating another World Cup.
Of course, Argentina play to Messi’s strengths. Scaloni sets up his team to revolve around the former Barcelona and PSG playmaker who has the license to preserve his energy for maximum impact in the final third. Messi doesn’t track back much. He doesn’t offer much on the defensive side of the ball. He spends a lot of the time static, often with his hands on his hips.
However, Argentina’s capacity for managing games makes carrying a difference-maker like Messi completely viable. The 2022 World Cup winners have cruised through their opening two matches against Algeria and Austria at the 2026 tournament and Messi is scoring goals for fun. He will surely extend his all-time record beyond 18 goals before the World Cup is over.
It’s true Argentina have yet to face a true challenge in their World Cup defence. Messi and co. were drawn in a favourable group compared to some of their rivals. Nonetheless, there’s already enough evidence to suggest the 2022 winners will take some toppling this summer, especially with Messi in his current form.
2022 was the culmination of Messi’s entire international career. The moment he’d waited a lifetime for as Argentina finally lifted the World Cup for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona. Any debate over Messi being the country’s best-ever was ended then and there. Three-and-a-half years on, he’s making sure of that.
(Cover image from IMAGO, additional images courtasy of adidas Football)
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