All eyes will be on Argentina and Lionel Messi today. Despite being one of the favorites to win the competition and having made the final in 2014, the South American powerhouse is staring at a group-stage exit.
A draw with Iceland in their opening game, followed by an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Croatia, mean they sit in the last place. Their final Group D tie against Nigeria is a must-win game, but fortunately for La Albiceleste, they have a man by the name of Lionel Messi.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has disappointed so far in Russia, but his record against the Super Eagles provides a small beacon of hope for Sampaoli’s struggling men. In this do-or-die situation for Argentina, their captain could bail them out should he repeat his heroics from previous encounters.
Leo’s best game against the African nation could easily be their clash in the 2014 World Cup. The CONMEBOL giant was made to sweat, but two amazing free-kick goals from the Barcelona star ensured a 3-2 victory for the two-time World Cup champion.
That was one of five run-ins Messi has enjoyed with Nigeria. The most eye-catching thing about his stats against the African side is that he won all his ties against the Super Eagles.
Argentina lost their last match against their Group D rival 4-2 in a pre-World Cup friendly, but La Pulga was neither in the starting lineup nor on the bench for that tie. In those five encounters that he has featured in, he has scored four and assisted two goals.
It all began in 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup when these two teams met in the final. Messi and Co. won 2-1, with the dribbling king netting both goals. Three years later, they met in another final, this time in the Olympics football competition. Argentina emerged victorious once more, with Leo setting up Di Maria to score the only goal.
They then locked horns in the 2010 World Cup, with La Albiceleste triumphing via a 1-0 scoreline once more. A 2011 friendly also ended in a win for Leo’s nation, with the Blaugrana icon picking up an assist en route to the 3-1 victory.
Five wins out of five is Messi’s record against Nigeria. Tuesday brings another chapter, one that the 31-year-old hopes will end positively.
