By Canadian Press

Messi finally scores, Argentina advances at World Cup

Jun 26, 2018 | 2:46 PM

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — From his thigh to his foot to the back of the net, Lionel Messi finally scored a goal at this year’s World Cup.

The exquisite strike from the Argentina great sparked the first of several celebrations from an animated Diego Maradona, who screamed, shouted and made obscene gestures — and raised concerns for his health.

Argentina staved off elimination with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria on Tuesday, getting a late goal from Marcos Rojo. Maradona showed both middle fingers to the crowd after the 86th-minute winner.

A short time later, videos posted on social media showed Maradona needing help out of the stands and into an adjoining luxury box at the stadium. He appeared to have his eyes closed and a later photo showed a pair of paramedics attending to him.

There was no immediate information on his health, but about two hours later he was photographed smiling at an airport. Another photo posted on Twitter appeared to show him sitting on a plane.

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Messi’s goal — his 65th for Argentina — was surely enough to impress even Maradona.

From a long pass over the defence by Ever Banega, Messi caressed the ball with his left thigh, took another touch with his left foot, and then delivered a smooth right-footed finish into the corner.

Messi fell to his knees and pointed his fingers upward in celebration. At the same time, Maradona crossed his arms with his hands on his shoulders and looked to the sky.

“I knew that God is with us,” Messi said, “and he wouldn’t let us get eliminated.”

Messi, who later hit the post off a free kick, and Banega controlled the game in the first half. Rojo finished it off in the second by cushioning a volley with his right foot into the bottom corner and ensuring Messi’s quest for a first World Cup title continued.

Argentina will play France in the last 16 in Kazan on Saturday. If Argentines win and Portugal beats Uruguay on Saturday, Messi would face Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarterfinals.

Without that late goal from Rojo, the 31-year-old Messi might have retired from international soccer for a second time — and for good this time.

Instead, it was Messi who was at the centre of the celebrations. His teammates formed a circle around him while striker Gonzalo Higuain cried nearby. Messi then clenched his fist as he turned toward the Argentina fans.

“He’s above everybody else,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said. “The most important thing for Leo is his human side. He cries. He suffers. He’s happy when Argentina wins. I know him.

“Many people say Leo does not enjoy playing for Argentina, but I do not agree. He enjoys and suffers like all the other players and that makes him even bigger.”

Before Rojo’s goal, Nigeria had been only a few minutes from qualifying for the last 16 for the fourth time.

Javier Mascherano gave away a penalty with a pull on Leon Balogun at a 49th-minute corner. Victor Moses converted — and marked the goal with a somersault — to put Nigeria back in control of the race for second place in the group.

Argentina was facing finishing a World Cup without a win for the first time since 1934, but instead the team is headed to the knockout stage.

“This is Messi,” Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr said with a shrug.

GROUP DYNAMICS

Minutes away from advancing to the knockout stage, Nigeria ended up third in the group — ahead of Iceland but a point behind Argentina.

Argentina has four days to prepare for its last 16 match against France. It is the first game of the knockout stage.

KEY TO SUCCESS

Messi delivered his best performance of the tournament, with his goal allowing Argentina to take early control of the game.

Yet the standout player might have been Banega, who was recalled to midfield after being on the bench for the first two games and impressed with his work rate and range of passing.

SERIOUS STATS

Messi joined Maradona and Gabriel Batistuta as the only Argentina players to have scored in three different World Cups. He has also now scored as a teenager, in his 20s and in his 30s at a World Cup.

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More AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/WorldCup

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Steve Douglas is at www.twitter.com/sdouglas80

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press