FIFA World Cup

FT Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Argentina WLWDL 2
–
Nigeria DLLLW 1
1st2ndT
ARG112
NGA011
Gazprom Arena · 64,468 att. · FOX

Match Report

Messi, Argentina come alive, beat Nigeria 2-1 at World Cup

Lionel Messi and Argentina finally came alive at the World Cup.

Full story at ESPN →

Team Stats

15
Fouls
20
3
Yellow Cards
2
0
Red Cards
0
2
Offsides
0
5
Corner Kicks
3
2
Saves
2
65
Possession
35
8
SHOTS
9
4
ON GOAL
3
0.5
On Target %
0.3
0
Penalty Goals
1
0
Penalty Kicks Taken
1
470
Accurate Passes
190
571
Passes
288
0.8
Pass Completion %
0.7
3
Accurate Crosses
2
18
Crosses
9
0.2
Cross %
0.2
51
Long Balls
64
23
Accurate Long Balls
20
0.5
Long Balls %
0.3
2
Blocked Shots
1
14
Effective Tackles
14
21
Tackles
22
0.7
Tackle %
0.6
10
Interceptions
16
24
Effective Clearances
19
24
Clearances
19

Head to Head

ARG leads series 3-2

Lineups

NGA · 3-5-2

  1. 23Francis UzohoG
  2. 5William Troost-EkongCD
  3. 22Kenneth OmeruoCD-L
  4. 6Leon BalogunCD-R
  5. 8Peter EteboCM-L
  6. 4Wilfred NdidiCM-R
  7. 10John Obi MikelAM
  8. 2Brian IdowuLM
  9. 11Victor MosesRM
  10. 7Ahmed MusaCF-L
  11. 14Kelechi IheanachoCF-R

ARG · 4-4-2

  1. 12Franco ArmaniG
  2. 16Marcos RojoCD-L
  3. 17Nicolás OtamendiCD-R
  4. 3Nicolás TagliaficoLB
  5. 2Gabriel MercadoRB
  6. 7Éver BanegaCM-L
  7. 14Javier MascheranoCM-R
  8. 11Ángel Di MaríaLM
  9. 15Enzo PérezRM
  10. 9Gonzalo HiguaínCF-L
  11. 10Lionel MessiCF-R

Timeline

  1. 14' Goal! Nigeria 0, Argentina 1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Éver Banega with a through ball.
  2. 32' Leon Balogun (Nigeria) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  3. 45' Substitution, Nigeria. Odion Ighalo replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.
  4. 49' Javier Mascherano (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  5. 51' Goal! Nigeria 1, Argentina 1. Victor Moses (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
  6. 61' Substitution, Argentina. Cristian Pavón replaces Enzo Pérez.
  7. 64' Éver Banega (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  8. 72' Substitution, Argentina. Maximiliano Meza replaces Ángel Di María.
  9. 77' VAR Decision: No Penalty Nigeria.
  10. 80' Substitution, Argentina. Sergio Agüero replaces Nicolás Tagliafico.
  11. 86' Goal! Nigeria 1, Argentina 2. Marcos Rojo (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gabriel Mercado with a cross.
  12. 90' Substitution, Nigeria. Alex Iwobi replaces Kenneth Omeruo.
  13. 90'+1' John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  14. 90'+2' Substitution, Nigeria. Simy replaces Ahmed Musa.
  15. 90'+4' Lionel Messi (Argentina) is shown the yellow card.

FIFA World Cup News

All news
ESPN ESPN Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026 ESPN provides game-by-game analysis of Lionel Messi's performances for Inter Miami and Argentina. News Adriana Garcia Lionel Messi: Argentina's 2026 World Cup final heartbreak "part of my football journey" Lionel Messi has accepted that Argentina's 2026 World Cup extra-time defeat to Spain was a part of his football journey. News Associated Press Asian football chief backs Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president The Asian Football Confederation endorsed Gianni Infantino on Friday for a fourth term as FIFA president. News Associated Press AFC president unclear on backing for Infantino's FIFA reelection The president of the AFC gave no hint Thursday about the body's support or opposition to the reelection of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president.