New York, July 14:
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is on the verge of eclipsing another World Cup milestone, with the veteran forward closing in on Diego Maradona’s long-standing record for the most shot involvements in a single tournament.
The 39-year-old has been instrumental in Argentina’s run to the FIFA World Cup semifinals and is currently tied with France’s Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot standings, with eight goals from six matches.
According to Opta, Messi has registered 54 shot involvements during the tournament, comprising 33 shots and 21 chances created.
It is the second-highest tally recorded in a single World Cup campaign and the best by any player since Maradona’s iconic performance in 1986. Maradona, who guided Argentina to the World Cup title in Mexico, finished that tournament with 59 shot involvements, including 29 shots and 30 chances created, a record that has stood for four decades.
Messi now has the opportunity to surpass that mark when Argentina face England in the semifinals on Wednesday.
The clash will also mark the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s first-ever international meeting against England.
Already the tournament’s joint-leading scorer and the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer, Messi will be aiming to inspire Argentina into another final while adding yet another milestone to his remarkable career.