Lionel Messi‘s dream of matching late nice Diego Maradona’s Argentina legacy lives on. The seven-time Ballon d’Or-winning ahead pulled degree with Maradona on eight World Cup objectives and a document 21 appearances on the match for his nation on Saturday. Messi’s good low strike from exterior the field sparked a 2-0 win over Mexico to take them second in Group C, simply as their hopes of victory had been beginning to fade and concern was setting in. Argentina’s talisman is 2 objectives in need of their World Cup top-scorer Gabriel Batistuta’s tally of 10 objectives, however his winner ought to convey extra alternatives to overhaul “Batigol” in Qatar.

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The actual dream is emulating Maradona’s 1986 World Cup win, however Messi can content material himself for now by levelling Maradona’s World Cup look document and aim haul, two years and a day after ‘El Pelusa’ handed away.

The curly-haired playmaker impressed Argentina to victory in Mexico in 1986, in addition to enjoying within the 1982, 1990 and 1994 editions.

Some insist Messi can’t be thought of the best of all time until he lifts the trophy, and in Argentina, Maradona’s gleaming World Cup legacy usually aids him in comparisons, his flawed genius profitable out in opposition to Messi’s near-perfection.

Maradona scored 5 and arrange one other 5 as Argentina waltzed to their second World Cup trophy 36 years in the past in Mexico.

Almost a yr later Messi was born, however Argentina haven’t managed to raise the trophy in his lifetime.

The Albiceleste captain managed to encourage the group to second place in 2014, with Argentina shedding 1-0 in extra-time in opposition to Germany within the Rio de Janeiro last.

The Paris Saint-Germain No 10, enjoying in his fifth World Cup, transformed a penalty in Argentina’s opener however they crashed to a shock defeat by Saudi Arabia.

Against Mexico he sporadically burst into life however his group had been largely suffocated by their energetic opponents.

Early within the second half Messi despatched a free-kick over the crossbar from a harmful place, as Argentina’s desperation grew.

Eventually he broke the impasse within the sixty fourth minute, ending exquisitely past the attain of Mexican cult hero Guillermo Ochoa, with Enzo Fernandez including a superb second late on.

Maradona scored solely 15 objectives for Argentina in 41 aggressive appearances, in comparison with Messi’s 49 in 115, however some led him to World Cup glory.

– Competing histories –

After elimination within the second group stage in Spain 1982, Maradona returned with a vengeance 4 years later.

He conjured essentially the most talked-about show in soccer historical past in opposition to England within the quarter-finals.

The stocky attacker scored one of many nice all-time objectives with a powerful solo dribble, after opening the scoring with the notorious “hand of god” punch over England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

Another brace adopted in opposition to Belgium within the semis and Maradona supplied an help within the 3-2 last win over West Germany, maybe the nation’s best sporting second.

In 1990 Maradona guided Argentina to the ultimate however they fell 1-0 in opposition to West Germany.

A wild eye-bulging celebration after scoring in 1994 World Cup grew to become a permanent picture — Maradona failed a medicine take a look at and was despatched house after two video games.

Messi, who grew to become the primary Argentinian to attain at 4 World Cups this week, struck on his debut on the 2006 match in opposition to Serbia and Montenegro as a teen.

He was an unused substitute as Germany eradicated Argentina within the quarter-finals, then suffered one other 4-0 thrashing by the identical opponents on the similar stage in 2010.

Germany foiled Messi once more on the last hurdle in 2014 and France beat them within the final 16 in 2018, the playmaker creating two objectives in a 4-3 defeat.

Messi has by no means scored in a World Cup knock-out tie and with two objectives in two video games this yr, and strikes in every of Argentina’s final six matches, this might be his time.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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