Argentina 2-0 Mexico: Lionel Messi & Enzo Fernandez score in crucial win

Lionel Messi produced a moment of trademark magic to help keep Argentina's World Cup hopes alive with victory in a tense encounter against Mexico.

The tension was mounting as Mexico frustrated Messi in an attritional game, especially in a first half littered with fouls and stoppages that never allowed Argentina to gain any momentum.

Messi changed all that after 64 minutes when he took one touch to control a pass with his left foot before drilling an unerring finish past Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

The masses of Argentina supporters in a crowd of 88,966 went wild in celebration and relief as their World Cup campaign got back on track.

Enzo Fernandez added a superb second with a curling shot into the top corner three minutes from time but it was Messi who made the breakthrough and the difference.

Victory in a tough final Group C game against Poland will send them into the knockout phase.

• 'Where there is Messi, there is hope for Argentina'
• World Cup Daily: 'A moment of genius' - Messi magic stuns Mexico
• Fifa World Cup: Groups & Schedule
• World Cup TV Coverage guide

Messi delivers the magic once again

Messi cut a frustrated figure for the first 45 minutes here, pushed to the margins as this crucial game descended into a bitty affair spoiled by fouls, with little of quality on show.

It was when the game settled down, the stoppages reduced and a football match broke out that Messi was finally able to exert his influence, wandering far and wide on the vast expanse of Lusail Stadium before finally making the decisive contribution.

In an ear-splitting atmosphere, Messi turned up the volume even more with that breakthrough goal that finally broke Mexico down and reignited Argentina's World Cup.

Messi produced two perfect touches with that wand of a left foot, one to control and one to arrow a finish beyond Ochoa's outstretched left hand.

It was what all of Argentina hoped for and demanded from their great talisman and, as so often before for club and country, the 35-year-old produced when they needed him most.

This highly-touted side had faced real jeopardy. Argentina knew defeat would finish them here in Qatar. Messi knew defeat would end his dream of lifting the World Cup, the major honour missing from his glittering and extensive honours list.

He followed another superstar in Kylian Mbappe, whose two goals against Denmark put France into the last 16, and he showed here he is determined not to be outshone by the other members of his elite group.

Mexico, backed by their own massed ranks of fans, were in no mood to step aside and it took that big moment to unlock them, bowing to Messi as so many others have done before.

There is still work to do for Argentina when they face Group C leaders Poland, who boast a sporting icon of their own in striker Robert Lewandowski, but the celebrations at the final whistle gave the impression that a team hotly tipped to lift the World Cup at this same Lusail Stadium believe their show is now on the road thanks to their captain and resident genius.

Player of the match

Mac AllisterAlexis Mac Allister

with an average of 7.66

• ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina
• MexicoMexicoMexico

Argentina

Avg

1. Squad number20Player nameMac Allister

   Average rating

   7.66
2. Squad number24Player nameFernández

   Average rating

   7.60
3. Squad number10Player nameMessi

   Average rating

   7.39
4. Squad number25Player nameLi Martínez

   Average rating

   7.26
5. Squad number13Player nameRomero

   Average rating

   7.26
6. Squad number9Player nameÁlvarez

   Average rating

   7.15
7. Squad number14Player namePalacios

   Average rating

   7.00
8. Squad number26Player nameMolina

   Average rating

   6.95
9. Squad number11Player nameDi María

   Average rating

   6.84
10. Squad number22Player nameLa Martínez

    Average rating

    6.82
11. Squad number8Player nameAcuña

    Average rating

    6.63
12. Squad number18Player nameRodríguez

    Average rating

    6.62
13. Squad number7Player nameDe Paul

    Average rating

    6.37
14. Squad number19Player nameOtamendi

    Average rating

    6.32
15. Squad number23Player nameE Martínez

    Average rating

    6.19
16. Squad number4Player nameMontiel

    Average rating

    6.09

Mexico

Avg

1. Squad number13Player nameOchoa

   Average rating

   6.52
2. Squad number22Player nameLozano

   Average rating

   6.21
3. Squad number26Player nameÁlvarez

   Average rating

   6.14
4. Squad number10Player nameVega

   Average rating

   6.11
5. Squad number3Player nameMontes

   Average rating

   5.99
6. Squad number2Player nameAraújo

   Average rating

   5.75
7. Squad number16Player nameHerrera

   Average rating

   5.72
8. Squad number15Player nameMoreno

   Average rating

   5.67
9. Squad number18Player nameGuardado

   Average rating

   5.64
10. Squad number25Player nameAlvarado

    Average rating

    5.63
11. Squad number9Player nameJiménez

    Average rating

    5.60
12. Squad number24Player nameChávez

    Average rating

    5.53
13. Squad number23Player nameGallardo

    Average rating

    5.42
14. Squad number21Player nameAntuna

    Average rating

    5.26
15. Squad number14Player nameGutiérrez

    Average rating

    5.11

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