"Messi may not have the best statistics at this tournament, but he's certainly the player with the biggest impact on a team," Wenger told TNT Sports on 28/6. "There's a difference between the best player and the player who carries the team best at the tournament. Michael Olise had the most impressive statistics and performances in the group stage, but Bayern Munich could still advance without him. Inter Miami wouldn't have made it past the group stage without Messi."

Former coach Arsene Wenger and superstar Lionel Messi. Photo: AFA

Wenger is the current chairman of FIFA's Global Football Development Committee. He's also a member of FIFA's "expert analysis" team at the tournament. The 75-year-old's team analyzes player performances based on observation and statistics to select the best lineup for each round. Messi was included in the best lineup for round two and the entire group stage.

Messi scored one goal and had no assists in the three group stage matches. However, his free-kick goal was the decider in Miami's 2-1 victory over Porto in round two. This win was crucial for the American team, securing second place in Group A and a place in the round of 16 against PSG.

One rare statistic where Messi led the group stage among attacking players was in total progressive actions, with 51 (15 progressive passes and 36 progressive carries). Progressive passes are accurate passes in the final third that move the ball at least 25% closer to the goal. Progressive carries are situations where a player continuously dribbles the ball for 5 meters or more.

These two statistics are often used to demonstrate a player's playmaking ability and impact. Players with good progressive passing are usually midfielders, while those with many progressive carries are typically wingers. This shows Messi's versatility.

In Europe's top 5 leagues last season, the three players leading in progressive passes were Joshua Kimmich (362 passes), Pedri (360), and Bruno Fernandes (325). The top three in progressive carries were Jeremy Doku (213), Lamine Yamal (181), and Vinicius Junior (169).

Before Messi's arrival, Inter Miami was second to last in the Major League Soccer (MLS) standings. Since signing the Argentinian star, the club has improved significantly, winning their first titles like the Leagues Cup and Supporters' Shield. They are the first American club to defeat a European team in an official tournament. Miami is also the only remaining representative from the host nation at the 2025 Club World Cup.

Compiled by Hoang An