Before England’s clash with Argentina, Thomas Tuchel meticulously strategized, contemplating various scenarios for both offensive and defensive play. He anticipated adjustments depending on who scored first and, like many predecessors, devoted considerable thought to neutralizing Lionel Messi.
For the initial hour, Messi was comparatively uninvolved, with statistics indicating England’s effectiveness in curbing his influence in critical areas. His only touch inside the penalty area was thwarted by a tackle from Elliot Anderson shortly after Anthony Gordon netted the opening goal. The percentage of his distance covered at sprinting speed (at least 20km/h) was 4.3%, slightly lower than his previous matches against Switzerland (4.6%) and Egypt (5.4%).
Tuchel likely felt reassured by Messi’s limited attempts on goal. The Argentine’s solitary shot came from distance and was blocked before reaching the England goal. In his 19 World Cup appearances where he played the full match, this was among the lowest shot counts he has recorded during regular time. Notably, the last time he had so few shots was during a match in 2014 against the Netherlands, where he played 120 minutes but managed only one on-target attempt.
Messi’s heat map indicated that he operated predominantly in the right half-space near the opponent’s penalty area, a typical zone for him. While one might argue that England had him contained, the reality is that Argentina’s captain remained in expected positions, which allowed for more manageable planning.
A full-match heat map can obscure subtle changes throughout the game. For instance, Messi’s only touch along the flank between the penalty box and touchline occurred near the center circle, where he passed to an offside Giuliano Simeone.
However, it was from this very flank that Messi began to shift the game’s momentum. He made six open-play crosses in the second half, an unusually high figure for someone who averages 2.3 crosses (including set pieces) per 90 minutes in league play since 2015. This was only the third time in World Cup history that he attempted such a high number of crosses.
One of these crosses led to a header by Nico González that Jordan Pickford expertly saved just before the second hydration break. This pivotal moment likely influenced Tuchel’s decision to introduce Ezri Konsa immediately after, followed by Dan Burn as he adjusted to a back five. The tactic had previously proven effective against Mexico, raising hopes for similar success.
Yet, Messi’s crossing ability surpassed that of Roberto Alvarado and Jesús Gallardo, who collectively attempted 25 open-play crosses in their match against Mexico but only created one chance valued at 0.05xG. In contrast, Messi’s assist for Lautaro Martínez’s winning goal generated an impressive 0.53xG, exceeding England’s total chances for the night. This marked only the second World Cup assist from Messi’s right foot, and it was significantly more challenging than the cutback he provided to Julián Álvarez during the semi-finals in Qatar.
This match was statistically anomalous for Messi, filled with outliers, yet it didn’t diminish his impact. Wherever he finds space, the greatest player of all time will always find a way to dismantle even the best-laid plans.
- Lionel Messi
- England
- Argentina
- Thomas Tuchel
- World Cup 2026
- features
