Messi comes off the bench in the 58th minute, replacing Ezequiel Lavezzi to inject fresh attacking quality for Argentina.

Immediately after coming on, Messi wins a free kick in the attacking half, putting Slovenia under pressure.

Messi unleashes a left‑footed shot from outside the box that is saved in the centre of the goal by the Slovenian keeper.

Messi feeds Ángel Di María, whose left‑footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Messi scores with a precise left‑footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner after a headed assist from Sergio Agüero.

Messi sets up Ángel Di María again, but Di María’s powerful left‑footed effort from outside the box flies just wide to the left.

In stoppage time, Messi has a left‑footed shot from outside the box blocked by the Slovenian defence.

From the resulting direct free kick, Messi’s left‑footed strike from outside the box goes just wide to the left, narrowly missing a second goal.