Messi 'from Jupiter'; Argentina set for World Cup glory

Nigeria coach says Messi is from another planet as Argentina make it three out of three

Lionel Messi

Nigeria 2 Argentina 3. Two goals from Lionel Messi helped Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 in the final game of Group F but the Africans are still through to the Last 16. Iran needed a thumping win against Bosnia if they were to sneak in ahead of Nigeria but their 3-1 defeat meant they finished bottom of the group.

There were 50 frenetic minutes in Porto Alegre as Argentina maintained their 100 percent record in the tournament, starting with Messi's opening goal after just three minutes, a powerful finish after Angel Di Maria hit the post. Ahmed Musa equalised 80 seconds later for Nigeria but Messi re-established Argentina's lead on the stroke of half-time with a sublime 25-yard free-kick.

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.