Ever Banega (Argentina)
There isn’t too much quality in the centre of midfield for Argentina, so Banega has a crucial role to play. He has regularly impressed at club level for Sevilla, but has often struggled to make the same impact on the international stage. However, if his pass to set up Lionel Messi against Nigeria is anything to go by, he has finally arrived on the international stage.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
![Nigeria v Argentina: Group D - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/06/6f552-1530217141-800.jpg?w=190 190w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/06/6f552-1530217141-800.jpg?w=720 720w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/06/6f552-1530217141-800.jpg?w=640 640w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/06/6f552-1530217141-800.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/06/6f552-1530217141-800.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/06/6f552-1530217141-800.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/06/6f552-1530217141-800.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/06/6f552-1530217141-800.jpg 1920w)
What is there to say that hasn’t already been said? This is likely to be Messi’s final World Cup, and he would love to finish his international career off by taking his national side all the way to the title. He struggled a little in the opening two games, missing a penalty against Iceland, but he came to life against Nigeria, and set them on their way to victory with a superb individual effort.