After Muslera punches away Verón’s set-piece, Messi collects the loose ball, dribbles past one defender but is stopped by a second Uruguay player before he can shoot.

Messi takes a free-kick from the right, delicately chipping the ball into the box, but Demichelis is penalised for a foul and the attack is stopped.

Messi is on the receiving end of a rough challenge from Gargano, who nearly catches him in a sensitive area, but the forward recovers and is able to continue.

Mascherano attempts a long crossfield pass looking for Messi’s run, but overhits it and Uruguay regain possession before Messi can get involved.

Verón threads a neat through-ball to Messi early in the second half, but Uruguay’s defence quickly crowds him out and dispossesses him.

Inside the box, Higuaín cushions a pass to Messi, who delays pulling the trigger and allows Uruguay’s defence to recover and block the shooting chance.

Messi skips past a challenge, hinting at one of his trademark solo runs, but chooses to lay the ball wide as Argentina enjoy a sustained spell of possession.

Messi drives forward on a surging run and slips a pass through to Higuaín, but Muslera races off his line to smother the chance.

Messi produces an excellent disguised pass to release Di María, but the winger is flagged offside and the promising attack is halted.

After Cáceres fouls Gutiérrez, Messi collects the ball from the restart and squares it to Verón; his shot ricochets in the box and Bolatti calmly finishes the loose ball for the decisive goal.