Don't Miss

ENG

Cricket
Football
NDTV Podcast
Formula 1
Tennis
Golf
Badminton
- Kabaddi
- Boxing
- Athletics
- Chess
- Swimming
- Shooting
- Wrestling
- Table tennis
- Othersports
- NFL
- NBA
- NHL
- US Streamers
- MMA
- WWE

Dark / Light mode

Oct 9,2026 11:31 PM IST

Select Language

Languages
हिंदी | Hindi

Dark / Light mode

Featured Links
Featured Sports
- Cricket
- Football
- Formula 1
- Tennis
- Hockey
- Golf
- Badminton
More Sports
- Kabaddi
- Boxing
- Athletics
- Chess
- Swimming
- Shooting
- Wrestling
- Table tennis
- Othersports
More from NDTV
- NDTV
- Business
- Hindi
- Movies
- Cricket
- Health
- Food
- Tech
- Auto
- Apps
- Trains

World Cup

Scoreboard
News
Photos
Videos
Fixtures
teams
players
Venues
Results
More
- Stats

arrow-down reddit snapchat twitter facebook comments email printer search bell top-nav reddit-fill snapchat-fill twitter-fill facebook-fill share whatsapp-fill bookmark arrow-rgt arrow-next arrow-up refresh close link cog star book zap cricket football tennis formula-1 badminton hockey golf boxing ndtv-n check left-arrow right-arrow

Live Cricket Matches

Cricket Matches
Football Matches
All Matches

India Matches

IPL 2026

Football Matches

Cricket Matches
Football Matches
All Matches

ISL

EPL

All Matches

Cricket Matches
Football Matches
All Matches

India Matches

EPL

Sports Home Fifa world cup 2014 Photos Messi Magic Helps Argentina Edge Past Nigeria Top Group

FIFA World Cup 2014 Photos

facebook

twitter

Messi 'Magic' Helps Argentina Edge Past Nigeria, Top Group

June 26, 2014 00:11

It was Lionel Messi at his very best as he scored 2 goals to take his team through to the next round. Nigeria too put up a good fight as they continuously kept up to Argentina's challenge.

Zoom

It was Lionel Messi at his very best as he scored 2 goals to take his team through to the next round. Nigeria too put up a good fight as they continuously kept up to Argentina's challenge.

For most fans though, Lionel Messi was the redeemer.(All images AP)

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

The match started with Argentina fans rooting for their team to win big against Nigeria, but what happened next was unexpected as far as Argentine supporters were concerned.

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 4th minute of the match when he scored of a rebound out of the reach of Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

Nigeria scored in the very next minute through Ahmed Musa.

This was the first time in World Cup's history that both teams in a match had scored within the first five minutes.

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

Messi continuously kept the Nigerian defenders beaten for pace with his runs to the opposition penalty area

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

Messi again scored at the dying minutes of the first half, giving his side a 2-1 lead at the break.

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

Nigeria's Musa scored his second goal of the match and put his side on level terms in the 48th minute.

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

The match swung like a pendulum as Marcos Rojo scored in the 51st minute to take Argentina into the lead again with the scoreline reading 3-2.

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

With the win, Argentina secured first place in Group F, with the maximum 9 points and a 3-0 record.

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

Messi received a standing ovation when was he was substituted in the 64th minute.

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit
Zoom

"We played against a team that wanted to play," Messi said. "I think we saw a good Argentina. We need to continue on this path."

facebook

twitter

WhatsApp

reddit

Back to FIFA World Cup 2014 photos

FIFA World Cup 2026 Standings

groups

A B C D E F G H I J K L

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Mexico Mexico 3 3 0 0 9 2 South Africa 3 1 1 1 4 3 Korea Republic 3 1 0 2 3 4 Czechia Czechia 3 0 1 2 1

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Switzerland 3 2 1 0 7 2 Canada Canada 3 1 1 1 4 3 Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 1 1 1 4 4 Qatar Qatar 3 0 1 2 1

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Brazil Brazil 3 2 1 0 7 2 Morocco Morocco 3 2 1 0 7 3 Scotland 3 1 0 2 3 4 Haiti Haiti 3 0 0 3 0

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 USA USA 3 2 0 1 6 2 Australia 3 1 1 1 4 3 Paraguay 3 1 1 1 4 4 Turkiye Turkiye 3 1 0 2 3

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Germany Germany 3 2 0 1 6 2 Ivory Coast 3 2 0 1 6 3 Ecuador Ecuador 3 1 1 1 4 4 Curacao Curacao 3 0 1 2 1

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Netherlands 3 2 1 0 7 2 Japan Japan 3 1 2 0 5 3 Sweden Sweden 3 1 1 1 4 4 Tunisia Tunisia 3 0 0 3 0

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Belgium Belgium 3 1 2 0 5 2 Egypt Egypt 3 1 2 0 5 3 IR Iran IR Iran 3 0 3 0 3 4 New Zealand 3 0 1 2 1

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Spain Spain 3 2 1 0 7 2 Cape Verde 3 0 3 0 3 3 Uruguay Uruguay 3 0 2 1 2 4 Saudi Arabia 3 0 2 1 2

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 France France 3 3 0 0 9 2 Norway Norway 3 2 0 1 6 3 Senegal Senegal 3 1 0 2 3 4 Iraq Iraq 3 0 0 3 0

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Argentina 3 3 0 0 9 2 Austria Austria 3 1 1 1 4 3 Algeria Algeria 3 1 1 1 4 4 Jordan Jordan 3 0 0 3 0

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 Colombia 3 2 1 0 7 2 Portugal 3 1 2 0 5 3 DR Congo 3 1 1 1 4 4 Uzbekistan 3 0 0 3 0

No Team GP W D L PTS 1 England England 3 2 1 0 7 2 Croatia Croatia 3 2 0 1 6 3 Ghana Ghana 3 1 1 1 4 4 Panama Panama 3 0 0 3 0

Now Trending

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com