Multiple sources discuss Lionel Messi’s continued impact at the World Cup despite apparent physical changes with age. Interaksyon frames Messi as 39 years old, about 1.70 metres tall, and no longer as quick as earlier in his career, describing him as “old, short and slow.” It notes that, even with these limitations, he remains highly influential, including by scoring at a level that places him among the tournament’s leading goal scorers.
The Conversation - Global adds a mechanism for how Messi compensates for declining speed and athletic attributes. It highlights a mental process—described as “scanning”—through which Messi reads the field and anticipates situations to create opportunities. Taken together, the articles present Messi’s dominance as the result of adaptation: less reliance on raw pace and more on positioning, awareness, and decision-making.
Overall, both sources agree that Messi’s performances persist at the highest level, attributing his continued effectiveness to how he adjusts his game rather than to an unchanged physical profile.
