In some ways, Argentina's Lionel Messi 'completed' football when he and his South American teammates lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time on December 18.
For many in the sport he was already considered the greatest of all-time but his overall 2022 World Cup performance to help secure Argentina's third title was immense even by his sky-high standards.
Here, The Sporting News keet track of all the data that mattered the most during Messi's time at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
MORE: Lionel Messi stats 2022/23: PSG goals, assists and more
Lionel Messi 2022 World Cup stats
After performing at an incredibly high level for club side PSG so far this season, Messi entered the 2022 World Cup in fine form, and he carried that into the tournament, in some style.
Updated after Argentina's final victory vs. France.
| Stat | Total | Rank amongst 2022 World Cup players |
| Goals | 7 | 2nd |
| Expected goals (xG) | 6.58 | 1st |
| Assists | 3 | =1st |
| Expected assists (xA) | 1.95 | 2nd |
| Shots | 32 | 1st |
| Shots on target | 18 | 1st |
| Shot conversion rate | 21.9% | =57th |
| Chances created | 21 | 2nd |
| Dribbles completed | 15 | 3rd |
| Dribble success rate | 45.5% | =57th |
| Touches in opposition box | 45 | 2nd |
| Successful passes | 296 | 15th |
| Passes played into the box | 49 | 2nd |
| Total carries | 145 | 7th |
| Progressive carries | 79 | 8th |
| Duels won | 44 | 3rd |
= means joint in statistic.
How many goals did Messi have at previous World Cups?
At the 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi joined a handful of footballers to have played in five different editions of the competition.
He's now played 26 times across four World Cups, with his previous best finish before winning in 2022 coming in 2014. That time around, Argentina got all the way to the final, where they were beaten 1-0 after extra time by Germany.
Overall, the former Barcelona man netted six goals across those four tournaments, and he added another seven in 2022.
Perhaps his best goal came vs Nigeria at the 2018 tournament where he controlled the ball brilliantly before slotting past the onrushing goalkeeper in that crucial do-or-die match.
READ: MESSI & RONALDO: DESTINATION MUNDIAL | THE FULL SERIES
