What happened: Robert Griffin III highlighted Lionel Messi's dual production for Argentina, noting he leads the squad in both goals and assists heading into the World Cup final. Griffin framed it as evidence Messi's value goes beyond scoring alone. Social reaction to the numbers has centered on his playmaking rather than any single moment.

Why it matters: Messi's assist total alongside his scoring underlines why he has carried Argentina's attack through the knockout rounds. It comes days before Messi and Yamal set to meet in the World Cup final, adding weight to comparisons between the two ahead of that match.

What to watch: Attention turns to the final, where Messi's goal-and-assist load will be tested directly against Yamal's Spain.