Where’s Lionel Messi? How many touches did the Argentina captain have in the first 15 minutes of the 2026 World Cup final?
Lionel Messi struggled to influence the opening stages against Spain, who dominated possession in the early exchanges.
It’s probably not a stretch of the imagination to say Argentina wouldn’t have reached the 2026 World Cup final without the influence of the majestic Lionel Messi. However, Spain ensured he had almost no impact on the opening stages of Sunday’s game in New Jersey, allowing them to take control of possession.
Messi barely involved early
As highlighted by analytics company Opta, Messi had just one touch of the ball in the opening 15 minutes of the World Cup final, and that came when he kicked off the match.
1 - Lionel Messi recorded just one touch in the opening 15 minutes of this FIFA World Cup Final - the kick-off.
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) July 19, 2026
One. pic.twitter.com/qen8el9GpB
The Argentina captain received praise for how he found space on the right-hand side of the field to play a decisive role in Wednesday’s semifinal against England, providing two second-half assists in his country’s 2-1 victory.
Can Messi make his mark?
He may yet go on to have a similar impact against Spain, but that certainly wasn’t the case in the opening 15 minutes, when he was surprisingly quiet.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment