Messi: God was with Argentina

Lionel Messi was always “confident” that Argentina would book a place in the last 16 of World Cup 2018, despite leaving things late against Nigeria.

The Albiceleste, with just one point to their name, headed into a final Group D fixture knowing that only a win would be enough to keep their dreams of global glory alive.

Messi got them off to the perfect start, with a sublime finish inside 14 minutes seeing the Barcelona talisman record the 100th goal at a Russian showpiece.

Messi told TyC Sports after a thrilling encounter in St Petersburg: “We were confident that we would win this game.

“It’s wonderful to have won it this way. It is a well-deserved joy.

“I knew that God is with us and he was not going to leave us out. I thank all the people who are here, for all their sacrifice, and all those who are in Argentina who were always with us. The shirt of the national team is above all.”