Messi drives forward in the attacking half, drawing a foul and winning a free kick after being stopped by the Nigerian defense.

Messi opens the scoring by controlling Éver Banega’s lofted through ball on his thigh and chest before drilling a right‑footed shot from the center of the box into the top left corner.

Messi threads a precise through ball into the right side of the box for Gonzalo Higuaín, whose right‑footed shot is saved by Francis Uzoho.

Messi cuts inside and unleashes a left‑footed shot from outside the box, forcing Francis Uzoho into a save low at his bottom‑right corner.

Messi combines on the left and slides a pass to Ángel Di María in the box, but Di María’s left‑footed effort from the left side is blocked by the Nigerian defense.

Messi’s close control on the right wing forces a Nigerian defender into a foul, earning Argentina a free kick out wide.

Messi carries the ball through the attacking half and is fouled, winning another free kick in a dangerous central area.

After committing a late foul, Messi is shown a yellow card as the referee punishes his challenge.