I know Lautaro has been good for Argentina in Scaloni era but he deserve a good seat in the crowd area for the rest of tournament after that miss.
I believe he has equalled Diego overall direct contribution? 8 goals + 8 assists, Messi has 9 goals + 7 assists? Its weird cause some articles has him at 2 assists in 2010, some has it 1 assist. Although he did actually had 2 direct assists, Korea own goal & Tevez goal.
I think the own goal doesn't count as an Opta assist. Messi's official tally is 9 goals and 6 assists in WC matches.
Messi has 9 assists with "wide" rules and 6 with "strict" rules. "Wide" assists being the three in WC10:
Mercado flicking his shot counted as assist yet S Korea own goal didnt ? Maradona third assist against Korea in 1986 also took very slight deflection and its counted.
There's really no official assists, because it hasn't been defined from the start. For example Fifa used "wide" assists back in the day, that's why in their list Pele and Maradona have more assists than Messi. Makes no sense really, and that's why they differ in places. I think "wide" rules is easily the better indication of goal contribution, and strict is better indication of passing quality. Football should start counting pre-assists too like they do in ice-hockey. For example with this Maradona has 8+8+2 and Messi 9+9+4 in WC.
His best stats before this was a decade ago where he equalled Batistuta 12 goals record. Its crazy he beat his own record at 35 years old.
If Messi care about statspedding, he wouldnt make so many passes for Higuain, Aguero, Palacio or even Lautaro in this tournament.
Thats the problem with fifa. During 2006 WC, there's one article from them that has Roman with 4 assists Totti with 3 , in other articles written by another guy, also from fifa website, its the reverse between Totti & Roman. Its confusing. Using wide rules, Roman had 4 assists, 3 directs plus one for Tevez where Tevez still has to beat 2 defenders . Higuain backheel to Messi in 2014 counted as an assist even though Messi still has to beat multiple defenders.
They are the right plays to make though. The passes to Lautaro Messi didn't really have a clear shot. He could have taken the shot but most likely it's blocked ... or maybe it goes in between some legs. Or he takes yet another dribble which at his age, it's not guarantee that he will get free.
Even better that one of the Australian player was taunting him during before the throw in. The goal happened like a minute later. Australia has goofiest looking squad in the tournament. Its like seeing 11 Peter Crouch in one team.
To me personally an assist off the post should count. It's accidental but many assists that don't hit the post are accidental too. If the ball goes off the goalkeeper and scored by a teammate or it passes to an opponent (own goal) then it's not an assist IMO.
Messi officially surpassed Maradona direct goals contribution. 10 goals + 7 assists. He also has bettered his WC 2014 stats. Currently with 4 goals + 2 assists.