Pressure mounted on the shoulders of Barcelona ace Lionel Messi as his Argentina side took on Bosnia-Herzegovina in their 2014 World Cup opening match.
The Argentine had a point to prove after his disappointing 2010 campaign but the Blaugrana star left his mark on his nation's group F encounter, scoring a beautiful second half goal to award his side a 2-1 win.
Furthermore, with a constant comparison between Messi and legend Diego Maradona, the 26-year-old's 65th minute stunner earned him something the two-time World Cup winner never achieved; scoring a goal from outside the penalty box at the World Cup.
“The [second] goal was a big relief for all of us because the match was getting harder. It was also special for me, and to score at the end of the game was very good,” Messi said after the game ended.
Messi does something Diego Maradona never did!
Messi has done something Maradona never did: Score from outside the box in a World Cup.
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) June 15, 2014
The Argentine superstar's stats vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
Messi vs Bosnia: - shots: 3 (1 goal) - passes completed: 46 - distance covered: 8169 m - top speed: 28,9 km/h
— MESSISTATS (@MessiStats) June 15, 2014
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"The system [in the second half] for us [attackers], we like it better. We have better possibilities of attacking and when we go forward we have more possibilities of passing and scoring. We’re favoured by this line-up.”
“[In the first half] I was alone and Kun was alone and it was difficult, but we used both systems, we won and it was important to win the first match."
1 - Lionel Messi has scored with his first shot on target of the match for #ARG. Buried.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 15, 2014
La Pulga's wonder goal
"It was incredible how the people cheered for us. We know it's going to be like this in Belo Horizonte too and even more in Porto Alegre. We have to keep going, take it easy, be cool and follow our dream."
Messi still has a lot more to do as a 2-1 win over a country who are making their first World Cup appearance is not deemed a performance worthy of a nation labeled as favorites to clinch the trophy.
Messi's two WC goals have come against Serbia & Montenegro & Bosnia & Herzegovina. #Balkanic
— David Wall (@1DavidWall) June 15, 2014
