In the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi defied expectations, proving his mastery at 39 and even 39. He matched Kylian Mbappé with eight goals, leading the tournament in shots and expected assists. Messi’s 68 progressive passes and 45 carries outpace all rivals, underscoring his all‑round dominance.

Analyst Michael Caley’s data backs Messi’s supremacy: he remains the top in goal‑scoring, chance‑creating, and ball‑progressing phases, outperforming peers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Ángel Di María, Neymar, and De Bruyne. While Messi’s goal tally no longer mirrors his 96‑goal/27‑assist Barcelona peak, his overall contribution remains unmatched.

Futi’s possession‑value model rates Messi a staggering 99 percentile, far higher than Mbappé’s 83. This metric, designed to measure how each touch alters scoring probability, highlights Messi’s influence beyond mere statistics.

Messi’s status as the greatest male athlete transcends sports; he outshines figures from football, basketball ไปยังกีฬาอื่น ๆ. His blend of endurance, precision, and creativity keeps him at the apex of modern football.