Lionel Messi’s 2026 World Cup has been historic, and his eight goals and four assists only scratch the surface.

Aside from the goal contributions, Messi has been dominant in several ways— through balls, take-ons, possessions won, and several other advanced metrics. It’s absolutely incredible just how versatile the 39-year-old has been through seven games of the tournament. He’s currently -800 to win his third Golden Ball award, and +100 to win the Golden Boot.

Here’s a deeper dive into the numbers behind Messi’s brilliance this tournament, ahead of the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on July 19.

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• Messi’s 8 goals are tied with Kylian Mbappé for the most of any player.
• His 2 goals from outside the box are tied with Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé (France), Yasin Ayari (Sweden), and Malik Tillman (USA) for the most of any player.
• His 34 shots are the most of any player. His 18 shots on target are the second-most of any player behind Mbappé (19).
• Messi has 5.31 xG (expected goals), the second-highest of any player behind Mbappé (5.5); xG measures the likelihood that a shot taken would result in a goal.
• His 5.75 xG on target is the third-highest of any player behind Mbappé (7.11) and Jude Bellingham (5.89).

• Messi’s 4 assists are tied with Brahim Díaz, Bruno Guimarães and Martin Ødegaard for the second-most of any player (Michael Olise has most, with five).
• He has 49 crosses and 19 crosses completed, both the most of any player.
• Messi has completed 21 key passes, the most of any player; a key pass is a pass that directly leads to a shot on goal by a teammate.
• Messi’s 158 passes in the attacking third are the second-most of any player behind Pedri (175); the attacking third is the area around the opponents’ goal.
• He has 4.12 xA (expected assists), which is the highest of any player; xA measures the likelihood that a pass made will result in an assist.

• Messi has 25 dribbles completed, the most of any player.
• He has 48 take-ons, which is the second-most of any player behind Yamal (52); a take-on is when a player attempts to beat an opponent one-on-one by dribbling past them while keeping the ball.
• Messi has 14 possessions ending with a goal; an individual possession is one player’s continuous control of the ball, from the moment they gain it until the moment they release it (by passing, shooting, dribbling, or losing it).
• He has 170 possessions ending in the attacking third, the third-most of any player behind Rodri (205) and Olise (172).
• Messi has 76 possessions ending in a shot, the most of any player.
• Messi has averaged 63.6 seconds per possession, the second-longest average of all forwards behind Julián Alvarez (min. 400 minutes played).

• 25 chances, the most of any player; a chance is defined as any play that leads to a player shooting.
• 8 big chances created, the most of any player; a big chance is an action that results in a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity.
• 15 through balls, tied with Michael Olise for the most of any player; a through ball is a pass made into open space between two defenders for an attacker to receive the ball behind the defenders.
• 43 touches in the opponents box, the fifth-most of any player behind Lamine Yamal (52), Mbappé (52), Mikel Oyarzabal (47), and Vini Júnior (44).

• Messi has created 11 chances from set pieces, which is the most of any player.
• He has had 8 shots from direct free kicks, which is the most of any player.
• Messi has 4 direct free kick shot attempts on target, which is the most of any player.
• Messi has taken 34 corners, the second-most of any player behind Canada’s Stephen Eustáquio (44).

Lionel Messi in FIFA World Cup semifinal vs. England (Photo by Liu Lu/VCG via Getty Images).

• Messi has been involved in 13 sequences ending with a goal, the most of any player; a sequence is a passage of play by one team that involves a continuous set of possessions and ended by defensive actions, stoppages in play or a shot.
• He has had 121 sequences with nine or more passes, the most of all forwards; that is also 35 more than the forward with the next-most, Lamine Yamal (86).
• He’s been involved in 256 sequences ending in the attacking third, the second-most of all players behind Rodri (257).
• Messi has scored a goal every 77.5 minutes, the third-best average among all players, trailing Erling Haaland (66.4) and Mbappé (76) (min. five matches played and f4our goals scored).

• Messi has scored 21 goals, the most of any man or woman in World Cup history.
• Messi has 12 assists, the most on record at the World Cup (since 1966).
• Messi has now scored or assisted in 11 straight World Cup matches, the longest streak on record (since 1966).
• Against Algeria, he became the oldest player to score a hat trick at the World Cup (39 years old).
• Messi has played 33 matches and won 23 matches, both the most of any player in World Cup history.
• With his assist vs. Egypt, he became the first player ever to register an assist in six different World Cups.
• He became one of two players ever to score seven goals in multiple World Cups, along with Mbappé.
• Has now scored a goal against 15 different opponents at the World Cup, the most of any player in World Cup history.
• He is up to 17 non-penalty goals at the World Cup, tied with Mbappé for the most in tournament history.

Juan Mata has become the latest high-profile figure to react to Manchester City’s financial charges verdict

Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has reacted to Manchester City’s financial charges verdict, jokingly questioning whether he may now be considered a Premier League title winner. The Spaniard was part of the United teams that finished behind City during his time at Old Trafford.

City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them when the Premier League launched its case in February 2023. However, no sanctions have yet been determined, and the Premier League is still to issue an official statement on the outcome.

A City spokesperson told MEN Sport: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

Although the process is still ongoing, a number of current and former Premier League players have shared their views on the saga. Speaking during ITV’s coverage of England’s Nations League clash with Spain, the ex-United midfielder suggested the outcome could have a direct impact on him, having spent eight years at Old Trafford between 2014 and 2022.

“Actually, directly, it affects me,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough to play enough games and win some trophies but I’ve never won the Premier League – or have I? I don’t know what’s going to happen but I think they’re right.

“Of course it’s fair what Rodri has said, with titles won on the pitch and I think he feels they were the better team on the pitch but who says it’s the right thing to do?”

City are expected to lodge a formal appeal against the independent panel’s verdict in their financial charges case with the Premier League. Under league rules, the club has 14 days from the decision to submit an appeal, which would then be reviewed by a three-member panel chaired by former solicitor and High Court judge Sir Gary Hickinbottom. It remains unclear whether that 14-day window has already begun.

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Any appeal would delay the implementation of potential sanctions, including fines, points deductions or other penalties. However, because the Premier League regards the appeal panel’s ruling as final, City would not be able to take the case any further or refer it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). An appeal would also not amount to a full retrial, nor would it necessarily involve all of the evidence being reheard.

On Saturday, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak penned an open letter to supporters. His comments, published on the club website, read: “I have been part of this Club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again – how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.

“Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.

“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.

“I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023. Every word matters and holds true.”

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) on Saturday announced it chose Munich as Germany‘s entry to bid for at least the next three Olympic Summer Games.

Ahead of the vote, former Olympic champion and new Sports Minister Ronald Rauhe said: “We have an international task to fulfill and must enter the race with the city or region that gives Germany the greatest chances internationally. The decision on that is made by sport, and I assume that it will make it with a great deal of responsibility.”

Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the Olympic bid represented a huge opportunity for all of Germany to “show that we are a land of opportunity.”

According to the Munich bid, all competitions would take place in Bavaria, except for the football matches which would be played in Stuttgart and the sailing competitions in the northern city of Kiel.

Berlin bowing out created two-horse race

Munich and a Cologne-led bid by the Rhine-Ruhr region were the only two in contention.

As many as 17.6 million tickets could be sold for the Games in Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr, more than ever before at a Games, the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia said recently. 

Munich was campaigning after two failed bids for the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games and having previously hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Up until Thursday, Berlin had been among the cities in contention, but the city’s mayor announced that the city would withdraw from the race.

The withdrawal comes after the socialist Left Party’s victory in the German capital’s elections last weekend. The party’s lead candidate and potential mayor, Elif Eralp, said she did not support Berlin’s bid.

Sports minister has sights set on 2040

On Friday, Sports Minister Ronald Rauhe said he would welcome a German Olympic bid for the 2040 Games, with it coinciding with an important historical milestone.

“2040 will mark the 50th anniversary of reunification. Here we could send a great signal that also aligns with the values of the Olympic Games,” Rauhe told German news agency dpa ahead of the deciding vote on Saturday.

“Based on my personal history, 2040 would be my favorite date. That has to do with the fact that I’m a Berlin child. As a schoolchild, I experienced what happens to people when a wall falls, when people grow together again, when two population groups that had been separated become a community again,” Rauhe said. 

“Ultimately, though, one thing matters above all: bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to our country. No matter when,” Rauhe said. 

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Edited by: Sean Sinico, Wesley Dockery 

The Asian Games 2026 will enter Day 9 on September 27, with India set for another busy day across athletics, squash, shooting, badminton, boxing, archery, hockey and several other sports.

Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh will headline the day’s action as they compete in the women’s and men’s singles gold medal matches in squash. Athletics will also provide several medal opportunities, with Manju Rani and Priyanka Goswami competing in the women’s marathon race walk, while Shaili Singh, Ancy Sojan, Harita Bhadra, Unnathi Bolland, Animesh Kujur, Sarvesh Kushare, Nandhini Kongan, Annu Rani, Parul Chaudhary and Ankita feature in finals.

Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat will begin their women’s 25m pistol campaign, while Harjinder Kaur will compete in the women’s 69kg weightlifting event. India will also be in action in badminton, archery, surfing, fencing, sailing, sepaktakraw, kurash, volleyball and women’s hockey.

Asian Games 2026 Day 9 schedule for Athletics

The athletics action begins at 4:00 AM with Manju Rani and Priyanka Goswami competing in the women’s marathon race walk final. Tejaswin Shankar and Thowfeeq Noushad will continue their men’s decathlon campaign with the 110m hurdles at 7:30 AM, followed by the discus throw at 8:10 AM and pole vault at 9:50 AM. Their javelin throw is scheduled for 3:35 PM, before the decathlon concludes with the 1500m at 5:40 PM.

Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan and Yashas Palaksha will compete in the men’s 400m hurdles heats from 8:35 AM, while Vithya Ramraj and Anu Raghavan will contest the women’s 400m hurdles heats at 9:05 AM and 9:13 AM, respectively. Sreeshankar Murali and David Solomon will be in men’s long jump qualification at 9:10 AM.

The evening session will feature several medal events. Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan will compete in the women’s long jump final at 3:25 PM, followed by Harita Bhadra and Unnathi Bolland in the women’s 200m final at 3:55 PM. Animesh Kujur will contest the men’s 200m final at 4:05 PM, while Sarvesh Kushare and J Aadarsh Ram compete in the men’s high jump final at 4:15 PM.

Nandhini Kongan will compete in the women’s 100m hurdles final at 4:53 PM. Mohammed Afsal and Krishan Kumar will feature in the men’s 800m heats from 5:06 PM. Annu Rani will contest the women’s javelin throw final at 5:33 PM, while Parul Chaudhary and Ankita will compete in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final at 5:52 PM. India’s women’s 4x100m relay team will then compete in the heats from 6:15 PM.

Asian Games 2026 Day 9 schedule for Squash and Shooting

India has two major gold-medal opportunities in squash. Abhay Singh will face Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow in the men’s singles gold medal match at 12:30 PM. Anahat Singh will then take on Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in the women’s singles gold medal match at 1:30 PM.

Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat will compete in the women’s 25m pistol individual qualification at 6:10 AM. The Indian women’s team will also compete in the team precision final at the same session.

The men’s and women’s trap competitions of Asian Games 2026 will begin at 6:30 AM. Ahvar Rizvi, Kynan Chenai and Shapath Bharadwaj will compete in the men’s event, while Manisha Keer, Aashima Ahlawat and Neeru will represent India in the women’s event.

Asian Games 2026 Day 9 schedule for Badminton

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan in the women’s doubles quarterfinal at around 6:00 AM. Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto will face China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dongping in the mixed doubles quarterfinal at 6:10 AM.

Unnati Hooda will take on Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the women’s singles quarterfinal at 8:00 AM. PV Sindhu is also scheduled for a women’s singles quarterfinal from 9:30 AM, subject to qualification.

Asian Games 2026 Day 9 schedule for Archery, surfing and sepaktakraw

India’s compound men’s and women’s teams will begin their elimination rounds at 4:45 AM. The men’s compound team faces the United Arab Emirates, while the women’s compound team takes on Mongolia.

Sugar Shanti Gayen will compete in the women’s shortboard Round 2 of Asian Games 2026 at 4:54 AM, while Sivaraj Babu is scheduled for the men’s shortboard Round 2 at 5:50 AM. Kamali Prakash is also scheduled to compete in the women’s shortboard Round 2.

India’s women’s doubles sepaktakraw team will face South Korea at 5:30 AM before taking on the Philippines at 11:30 AM. The compound mixed team will also be in action at 7:30 AM.

Asian Games 2026 Day 9 schedule for Boxing, fencing and weightlifting

Ankush will face Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov in the men’s 80kg quarterfinal of Asian Games 2026 at 9:45 AM. Parveen will take on Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova in the women’s 65kg quarterfinal at 2:00 PM.

Sachin Siwach will face Japan’s Shunsuke Kitamoto in the men’s 60kg quarterfinal at 2:45 PM, while Narender will meet Thailand’s Adthapong Saengtep in the men’s 90+kg quarterfinal at 3:45 PM.

CA Bhavani Devi and Shreya Gupta will lead India’s women’s sabre team against Indonesia in the Table of 16 at 8:20 AM. Harjinder Kaur will compete in the women’s 69kg weightlifting event at 10:00 AM.

Asian Games 2026 Day 9 schedule for Hockey, volleyball and others

The Indian women’s hockey team will face Singapore in a Pool B match at 3:30 PM. The men’s volleyball team will take on Vietnam in a Pool C match at 12:30 PM.

Hriday Chheda and Jai Sud will compete in individual dressage at 6:00 AM. India’s sailors will also be in action, with Prince Noble and Manu Francis competing in the men’s skiff/49er races from 10:30 AM, while Harshita Tomar and Shital Verma compete in the women’s skiff/49er FX races from 10:40 AM.

In kurash, Sangita and Bharti will compete in the women’s 57kg category, while Yash Kumar Chauhan and Vishal will feature in the men’s +90kg category from the morning session and later rounds.

Asian Games 2026 Day 9: Key medal events for India

The biggest medal opportunities for India on September 27 will come in squash, athletics, shooting and weightlifting.

Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh will compete for gold in squash, while Harjinder Kaur will contest the women’s 69kg weightlifting event. Athletics will offer multiple medal opportunities through the women’s marathon race walk, women’s long jump, men’s and women’s 200m, men’s high jump, women’s 100m hurdles, women’s javelin and women’s 3000m steeplechase.