Argentine star Lionel Messi is gearing up for an all-important clash with European side Switzerland in the round of 16 as both nations go in search of a quarter-final spot.
The Barcelona ace led his side past the first round, topping their group as the two-time champions won all three games, with the 27-year-old scoring in every single match, racking up four goals in total.
But now they face a tricky Switzerland team who might prove to be on a level different from group F opponents Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nigeria, and Iran.
Messi has scored in each of his last 4 matches with @Argentina: 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 #ARGvsSUI
— MESSISTATS (@MessiStats) July 1, 2014
Most goals in this World Cup: [5] James Rodríguez [4] LIONEL MESSI [4] Neymar [4] Thomas Müller [3] 5 players
— MESSISTATS (@MessiStats) July 1, 2014
"[I'm] Happy to have gone through to Last-16, but now the World Cup really starts," a message on the Argentine’s Facebook page read.
"Let's do something amazing."
Pressure mounts on La Albiceleste’s captain as Argentina, who, though clinching maximum points from the group stage, have still failed to announce themselves in the tournament as title favourites.
However, he has received the backing of Argentina team-mate and Real Madrid star Angel di Maria who claims: “Messi is the best in the world.”
"What he does nobody else can do and luckily he's ours."
Messi was involved in 42 goals during his 32 appearances for club & country this calendar year (32G, 10A)
— MESSISTATS (@MessiStats) July 1, 2014
Messi's last 24 matches with #ARG: D - W - W - W - W - W - W - D - W - W - D - W - W - D - D - D - W - W - D - W - W - W - W - W
— MESSISTATS (@MessiStats) July 1, 2014
"He is going to be the World Cup's big goalscorer. He's at a tremendous moment and that's very good but we all catch it off him."
"We're going from a lower level to a higher one. We haven't reached our best level yet, but I still believe we can win the World Cup," added the 26-year-old Los Blancos ace.
