Why does 39-year-old Messi walk for 47% of the World Cup?

Why does 39-year-old Messi walk for 47% of the World Cup?

Messi walks for 47% of the distance he covers in this tournament.

Among Argentina's outfield players, his distance covered per 90 minutes is among the lowest.

He also averages only 2.7 sprints per game.

Looking only at the numbers,

you might think,

"Isn't he running too little?"

However, that same player has recorded 8 goals and 3 assists.

He has taken 33 shots and created 21 goal-scoring opportunities.

Even though he is walking, his impact on the game is greater than anyone else's.

This is where the current Messi's extraordinary ability lies.

The younger Messi was a player who dribbled at high speed from the right wing.

Later, he moved to the center as a false nine, breaking down defensive structures themselves.

Furthermore, he transformed into a playmaker who not only scores but also orchestrates the game.

Now at 39, Messi has changed his form once again.

He is a player who reduces his running volume to concentrate his energy on decisive moments.

So, what is he looking at while he walks?

Why do his teammates accept running on his behalf?

And why does a player who is walking appear in the most important parts of the game?