World Cup 2018: 3 reasons why Argentina could beat Nigeria and qualify

#2 Lionel Messi's influence

Argentina v Iceland: Group D - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia — In Lionel Messi, Argentina still have hope

While Argentina's poor performances have encouraged many people to write them off in the World Cup this year, it should not be forgotten that the Albiceleste still have one of the greatest players in history representing the nation. With Lionel Messi on the team, everything is possible for the South Americans in Russia.

Despite his recent struggles, Messi is still one of the most talented players in the world. On his day, the playmaker could single-handedly destroy Nigeria's defense and earn a vital victory for his nation.

He did it in 2014, scoring a fantastic brace, including a brilliant free kick to inspire the Albiceleste to a 3-2 victory over the African giants.

If Messi finds his rhythm in the game today, he could end up repeating that feat and secure Argentina's passage into the knockout stage of the tournament.

About the author

Jidonu is a European and international football news writer at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and has around 7 years of previous experience working with the likes of Tribuna and SportRaba, Jidonu has a good eye for detail and has the ability to created cohesive articles, and reporting exploits have also led him to exclusively cover the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the past.

Jidonu’s tryst with football started after watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, being mesmerized by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Barcelona philosophy and approach towards the game under Pep Guardiola further fueled the burgeoning love for the sport, and he has been a Culer ever since.

Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi is his favorite player and is the one true GOAT for him over Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final, where Messi's brace led to La Albiceleste lifting the cup left a lasting impact on him. His love for Messi also sees him follow Major League Soccer apart from Europe’s top five leagues.

In his free time, Jidonu raps and produces music, and also enjoys reading and swimming.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.