Lionel Messi's genius reason for walking in games as incredible World Cup stat emerges

Lionel Messi has spent a lot of time at the World Cup walking around the pitch - but there is a genius reason behind the strolling.

In his sixth and potentially final World Cup, Messi has been a phenomenon once again - scoring seven times and becoming the record goalscorer in the history of the competition.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is looking to add to his tally in the round of 16 clash with Egypt, as well as move Argentina one step closer to retaining the World Cup and adding a fourth star.

Messi's first ever World Cup came two decades ago but he is still doing his thing at an unbelievably high level at the age of 39.

Yet this time around, he is sprinkling magic in every game while barely doing any running.

Any time you watch Messi play in this tournament, he very regularly does not seem involved in the play. He ambles around and appears disinterested before coming alive when he wants to.

Naturally Messi has to adapt his game for longevity as he can no longer be the all-action dribbling sensation he once was.

READ MORE: What happened to the Argentine who was tipped to 'turn out better than Lionel Messi'

But Messi, who is not a fan of running without the ball, has previously explained the thought process behind spending time walking and the impact it can have.

In a conversation with Clank Media, Messi said: “When I was at Newell’s, there were two or three times a week we were sent to run around the grounds. I used to hide behind a tree. Running without a ball was never my thing.

“I have always been very self-critical. I am the first to know what I do right and what I do wrong. When I walk I analyze the opponent’s positioning, how we stand when we don’t have the ball, get away from the marker and be able to initiate a counterattack.

“I don’t pay much attention to GPS, statistics or data. I never cared how much I ran in a match.”

Pep Guardiola, a man who played such a pivotal role in Messi's rise, claimed that even when walking the Barcelona legend is "not out of the game" as he is looking at where the spaces will be as he "smells who is the weak point of the back four".

More recently, England legend David Beckham revealed that Messi imparted wisdom on a young academy player at his club Inter Miami by encouraging him to start walking in games.

Speaking on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football podcast, Beckham explained: “There was an interview the other day with one of the academy kids, who is doing well, and they turned round to him and said, ‘what’s the best bit of advice that Leo has given you so far?’

“And he said, ‘to walk more’. He said ‘to walk more because you see more’ so it’s already started with the good that he does. It’s incredible.”

Lionel Messi's staggering World Cup walking stat emerges ahead of Argentina vs Egypt

According to FIFA, Messi is 343rd for distance covered at the World Cup in North America.

Messi is said to have totalled just 27km in five matches but the real stat came courtesy of Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live, Balague revealed that Messi covers "about 6.6km per game, of which 62% is walking".

He believes with those metrics, Messi will be able to play in a record-breaking seventh World Cup.

Balague said: "You raise 62% to 75% and he will still make it. He's the best goalscorer in the World Cup, he's the best goalscorer in the MLS for two years, best goalscorer in the qualifiers."

The figures stunned former Manchester United midfielders Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt on their 'The Good, The Bad and The Football' podcast.

But Lionel Scaloni has found a way to allow for Messi to be the ultimate luxury player, with his Argentina players almost doubling their running and doing the dirty work so that the Inter Miami star can be the match-winner when they need him.

It has worked a treat so far and the approach may not be done just yet.