Messi is old, short and slow. How is he still dominating at the World Cup?

By Gert-Jan Pepping, Professor of Human Movement Sciences, Australian Catholic University
Thomas McGuckian, Lecturer, Australian Catholic University

Lionel Messi is 39 years old. He is 1.70 metres tall – shorter than almost every defender he plays against. He was never astoundingly quick, and he is slower now.

And yet, watching this World Cup, you would be hard pressed to name a player doing more damage: he has scored the equal most goals so far (six), alongside France’s Kylian Mbappé.

How can someone with so little…

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