The reasons for Messi's improved Argentina form

Lionel Messi is one game away from winning the World Cup, the only award that has eluded him in a brilliant career in which he has had to overcome difficulties, such as the four previous World Cups with Argentina.

Messi is breaking all records at national team level and some at world level. He is the most effective he has ever been in a World Cup. Many expected this last World Cup effort from the 10, but not so many expected such a magnificent display as the one he is showing in Qatar.

More goals than before

Messi has five goals in six games so far. Three of the goals have come from penalties, taking his tally to 11 World Cup goals, already ahead of Gabriel Batistuta's 10. In 2014, he got four goals.

Performances as well as goals

Aside from the goalscoring figures, for many, Messi is performing better than anyone else at the World Cup, although the final will decide who wins FIFA's coveted 'best player' trophy of the World Cup.

Leadership

Maturity has given him more leadership on and off the pitch. He is more of a captain than in the past. He pulls more for the group, as he showed in the difficult moments against the Netherlands.

More assists

The Rosarino has so far accumulated three assists in six games, the last of them a wonderful one for Julian Alvarez. His eight assists in the World Cup equals Diego Maradona, whom he can surpass in a new record if he can get another in the final.

Maturity

Messi has been talking to the press at the end of every match. Since the first gane, in which they lost to Saudi Arabia, Messi has had a calm, serene, and wise attitude towards the game.

Physical intellignece

"I can no longer kick it long and run after the ball. I'm 35 years old and I have to be smart," he said recently. Messi, at his age, is aware of his limitations. That's why, physically, he is smarter than ever and never runs for the sake of running.

His insistence on victory

Messi has never won the World Cup but it is not because of a lack of insistence. So much so that tomorrow he will become the player with the most games in the history of the World Cup, with 26, surpassing the Germany's Lothar Matthaus (25). Tomorrow he will also overtake Italy's Paolo Maldini as the player with the most minutes played in a World Cup. Maldini has 2217 to Messi's currently 2194.

Getting the first goal

Messi is not only decisive in quantity but also in quality. Of his five goals, in four of the six matches, he has opened the scoring, even if the Saudi Arabia goal was not worth much.

Relationship with the fans

Messi's relationship with the Argentinian fans has always been good, although, obviously, with the ups and downs of results, it has come and gone. He was never been seen enjoying himself with the Albiceleste fans as much as at this World Cup in Qatar.

His stature

He is the focus of the world's press and public. It is true that not everyone wants Messi to win this Cup, but everyone admires his career. He is the player who attracts the most unanimous praise for the World Cup he could win at the age of 35.

Adblock test (Why?)