Particular person glory will be the farthest factor on Lionel Messi’s thoughts come Sunday, as Argentina tackle France in his second World Cup closing, in a bid for the 35-year-old to win the one elusive title lacking from a hall-of-fame profession. But, as Messi’s inspirational performances have carried his aspect to the ultimate, his particular person stats have risen.
The Argentine now has the chance to change into the primary participant to be the highest scorer of a World Cup – the winner of the well-known Golden Boot – in addition to prime assister. It’s a feat that a couple of have come near – most not too long ago Thomas Muller on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa the place he was joint-top scorer and assister, profitable the golden boot resulting from lesser video games performed, however lacking out on top-assister as Kaka had performed lesser video games than him.
Argentina’s Diego Maradona additionally got here shut throughout their triumph in 1986, he was the highest assister with 5, however his 5 objectives got here up wanting England striker Gary Linekar’s six within the race for the golden boot.
The race for the 2 titles has heated up, and can be much more thrilling within the closing, as every of the highest contenders can be taking part in within the summit conflict. Messi is the joint top-scorer with 5 objectives alongside Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe. Olivier Giroud and Julian Alvarez are additionally within the operating with 4. The Argentine skipper is joint-top assister with three, alongside Harry Kane, Bruno Fernandes, and Antoine Griezmann,Subscriber Solely StoriesPremiumPremiumPremiumPremium
In case of a tie, the tiebreaker is fewer video games performed, and since that’s prone to be an identical for the reason that fundamental protagonists are taking part in the ultimate, it is going to be determined by fewer minutes performed.
Prime scorers on the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
Kylian Mbappe – 5 (six video games, 477 minutes)Lionel Messi – 5 (six video games, 570 minutes)Olivier Giroud – 4 (5 video games, 383 minutes)Julian Alvarez – 4 (six video games, 364 minutes)
Prime assisters on the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
Bruno Fernandes – 3 (4 video games, 357 minutes)Harry Kane – 3 (5 video games, 402 minutes)Antoine Greizmann – 3 (six video games, 467 minutes)Lionel Messi – 3 (six video games, 570 minutes)