FIFA have tried so hard to stat-pad Messi. I mean, seriously: Algeria, Austria and Jordan in the group stage? Cape Verde in the round of 32? And then even Egypt in the round of 16 aren't exactly world beaters (Australia definitely aren't either, if they'd managed to get past Egypt). The commentators keep going absolutely mental every time he scores a goal against a team ranked below 50, it's kind of pathetic. Can't blame him, though: he can only score against what's put in front of him. And FIFA have made that really, really easy.
But, if I was one to believe that there's a lot of rigging going on in football (*cough* there is), I'd say that it's all been orchestrated for Messi to win what will be his last World Cup. I mean, the first time he'll actually come up against serious opposition is in the semi final against Brazil. Hardly any heavy lifting until then.