Lionel Messi is 38 years old and is preparing to compete in his sixth Copa of Mundo. The Argentine is experiencing the greatest experience of his career and should play a central role in Argentina’s campaign in search of a second title. The team defends the title won in 2022 at Catar.
The player who debuted as a fast right winger for Barcelona in 2003 now walks more than he runs on the field. Ele conserves energy and reads the game with surgical precision. Evolution did not happen by chance. Messi has adapted multiple times over two decades to remain decisive.
Guardiola moves Messi away from the right wing due to defensive needs
Pep Guardiola took over Barcelona in 2008 and quickly identified a problem. Messi played on the right, but didn’t move back to help with marking. The opposing full-back gained space easily. The Catalan coach decided to change the Argentine’s position.
The first major change came for tactical reasons. Messi started to act more centrally. The team was built around this new role. The Argentine always ended up in the middle of offensive plays. The change gave immediate results on the big stages.
Falso nine appears on Bernabéu and dismantles Real Madrid
On May 2, 2009, Barcelona faced Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu. Guardiola placed Messi as false nine. Samuel Eto’o went to the right and Thierry Henry to the left. The Argentine was given freedom to retreat, receive the ball and decide.
The result was 6 to 2 for Barcelona. Messi circulated between the lines and created chaos in the Merengue defense. Zagueiros didn’t know whether to follow him or stay positioned. Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Yaya Touré fueled the attack. Henry and Eto’o explored the open spaces on the sides.
Semanas later, in the final of Liga of Campeões against Manchester United, Messi scored with a header. The false nine already showed its potential. Entre 2011 and 2013, he scored 96 times in 69 La Liga games.
- Messi debuted for Barcelona at age 16 against Porto’s José Mourinho
- In 2005, he impressed Fabio Capello in a game against Juventus
- Guardiola asked for more touches of the ball in the center of the attack in 2008
- Falso nine debuted with a 6-2 victory over Real Madrid
- Marcou heads in the 2009 Champions League final
Transição to organizer after leaving Xavi and Iniesta
The departure of Xavi in 2015 and Iniesta in 2018 changed the scenario for Barcelona. Messi, previously the decisive finisher, now takes on more creative responsibility. Ele retreated further and acted as a hook.
Assists gained equal weight to goals. In the 2019-20 season, he recorded 22 passes and 25 goals in 33 La Liga games. In the last full season at Barcelona, 2020-21, there were 30 goals and 11 assists in 35 matches.
No Paris Saint-Germain, the transformation has been consolidated. In 34 games, he scored 11 goals and provided 15 assists. Pela for the first time in his club career, assists exceeded goals. A scorer turned into an organizer.
Capitão from Argentina overcomes defeats and leads achievements
Messi took over the captain’s armband from Argentina in 2011. Vieram lost finals. The Copa from the 2014 Mundo to the Alemanha. Duas Copas América for Chile on penalties, in 2015 and 2016. The pressure was increasing.
Após the elimination in 2019’s Copa América, he publicly criticized Conmebol. The leader emerged. In 2021, Argentina beat Brasil in the Copa América final at Maracanã. Messi’s conversation in the locker room before the decision moved his teammates.
Na Copa from 2022, he synthesized all the phases. Apareceu the 2009 winger in the sprint against Josko Gvardiol in the semi-final. In the final against França, he made a precise pass for Nahuel Molina’s goal, forced a rebound on the third goal and converted a penalty. Argentina lifted the trophy.
Veterano on Inter Miami conserves energy and still decides
Desde July 2023, Messi defends Inter Miami. Ele walks more than he runs. Críticos who once questioned mobility now see mastery. The Argentine reads the game and appears in the decisive moments.
In 2026, he maintains good form in MLS. Recentemente, recorded multiple goals and assists in a row. Rodrigo De Paul revealed extra pair training for Copa. Messi follows individual preparation when necessary.
Argentina faces Honduras and Islândia in preparatory friendlies. The focus is on defending the world title. Messi arrives as a player who has reinvented himself at least five times. Do winger who enchanted the world to the veteran who commands with vision.
Ele will compete in Mundo’s sixth Copa, equaling the record of Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa. What matters is not just current talent. São the constant adaptations that allowed longevity at a high level.
