Lionel Messi draws defenders into the danger zone

SportLocation Football Desk · 6 Oct 2026

In this World Cup-assists montage, Messi’s forward carry brings a defender towards him as the attack approaches the box.

Lionel Messi’s danger in the final third is not only in the pass that ends an attack. It is also in the way he carries the ball towards a defender and makes that opponent commit.

The montage labelled as his World Cup assists shows Messi advancing towards the penalty area with a defender close by. That pressure matters: it narrows the defender’s choices and can leave space for a teammate if Messi releases the ball at the right moment.

There is no need to force the play. Messi keeps the attack moving towards goal, with the defender’s attention fixed on the ball and the rest of the penalty area still in view. The detail is the decision to draw pressure before the next pass.