SPORTS ADDICT!'s video: Messi s First and Last Goal in World Cup 2018 MMG Nigeria Vs Argentina Russia - 2018

It all comes down to this for Lionel Messi and Argentina. The superstar and his turmoil-ridden side have one more match to salvage their group performance and reach the knockout stage when they face Nigeria on Tuesday. Argentina would clinch a last-16 berth with a win and a Croatia win or draw vs. Iceland in their simultaneous Group D finale, while it could also go through if Iceland wins–provided its goal totals secure the tiebreaker. But there's been little to suggest Argentina has a victory in them based on its play thus far in Russia, whereas Nigeria turned some heads with its win over Iceland. Ahmed Musa's double did the trick, and the pace and pressure that Nigeria applied to Iceland could wreak havoc on an Argentina side that has looked slow and disinterested in defense in two matches. That was the case in November 2017, when Nigeria beat a Messi-less Argentina 4-2 in a friendly. On the World Cup stage, the history between the two sides belongs to Argentina, though. They've met in three of the last four World Cups, with Argentina winning group matches in 2002, 2010 and 2014, all by one-goal margins. Argentina, as it has all tournament, struggled to find a rhythm early. Errant passes and a lack of cohesive possession were prevalent, and Nigeria looked the more dangerous of the two. The Super Eagles looked like they'd have a great opportunity at the top of the box on the break, only for Nicolas Otamendi to come up with a last-gasp tackle in the sixth minute. Argentina's first chance came from Nicolas Tagliafico in the eighth minute, when Ever Banega played him in through the seam on the left-hand side, only for him to put his chance just wide of the left post. Action picked up on the other end a minute later, when Nigeria threatened off a long throw-in. Musa's speculative drive from outside the area didn't miss the target by much, but it sailed over Franco Armani's goal. The goalkeeper, replacing Willy Caballero after his blunders vs. Croatia, earned his first cap with Argentina on the day. Argentina finally got the play it was looking for in the 14th minute. Messi received a perfect ball out of the back by Banega, taking it down beautifully and finishing with his off foot, finding the back of the net to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. Given the score at the time in the Iceland-Croatia battle, that goal put Argentina provisionally into second place in the group–enough to go through.