Argentina vs Mexico live score, FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar: Argentina stay alive with 2-0 win

So Argentina stay alive and we bring down the curtains on this game as well. Do join us for more tomorrow. Till then be well and take care. Ta, ta for now.

Lionel Messi’s game by numbers vs. Mexico:

88% pass accuracy
64 touches
36 passes completed
8 ground duels won
2 dribbles completed
1 key pass
1 assist
1 goal

Scored another memorable goal for Argentina. 👏 pic.twitter.com/RFFHNmAxRT
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 26, 2022

1 - Lionel Messi is now both the youngest (18y 357d vs Serbia in 2006) and the oldest (35y 155d vs Mexico today) player to both score and assist in a single World Cup game since the start of the 1966 tournament. Longevity. pic.twitter.com/e6Ak6fmI8l
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 26, 2022

A couple of tweets before we end this.

FULL-TIME! Argentina 2 Mexico 0. It's that man Lionel Messi again who saves his side from elimination as he scores one and assists the other to give Argentina the much-needed 3 points. After a tight first half, eventually the class of Argentina told.

6 minutes of added time.

GOAL! Enzo Fernandez in the 87th minute! Argentina 2 Mexico 0. What a goal that is. Messi feeds it to Enzo from a corner on the inside-left channel, Enzo with dazzling feet cuts inside and curls a beauty into the far corner. That would have made Thierry Henry proud. Game over surely?

Mexico with a lot of possession as Argentina look to hit them on the counter. That's how it is going to be played for the last 20 minutes or so one would think.

Another double change for Argentina - Cristian Romero, who was supposed to be injured, and Ezequiel Palacios replace Alexis Mac Allister and Angel Di Maria.

STAT: Messi has now scored in his last 6 internationals for Argentina - he has done that once already.

GOAL! Lionel Messi in the 64th minute! Argentina 1 Mexico 0. Messi equals Diego Maradona for the most goals in World Cups for Argentina. Di Maria feeds Messi just outside the box and the great man drives an unstoppable shot into the bottom-right corner even as Ochoa dives to his left. That was so badly needed for Argentina and who else but Messi to provide them the goal.

Double change for Argentina - Julian Alvarez comes on for Lautaro Martinez. Gonzalo Montiel makes way for Nahuel Molina.

Change for Argentina as Guido Rodriguez goes off and Enzo Fernandez comes on.

Messi wins a free-kick just outside the box after a nice one-two with Alexis Mac Allister. But his effort sails over the crossbar. Disappointing by his standards.

Second half begins.

HALF-TIME! Argentina 0 Mexico 0. Probably the dullest of halves this World Cup has seen. Argentina barely threatened and the best chance fell to Mexico's Vega whose free-kick was caught. The game cries for some creativity.

5 minutes of added time.

Mexico get a free-kick left of centre and Vega curls it up and over the wall but Emi Martinez makes a photographer's save airborne and diving to his right to catch that.

Andres Guardado is off for Mexico - Erick Gutierrez is on. Guardado probably has a knock.

Argentina now camped in the Mexican half and get a corner. But Lautaro Martinez's header drifts well wide.

A free-kick on the left and Messi curls it at goal, Ochoa punches it away and then is fouled inside the box.

22 minutes gone and Argentina yet to have a touch in Mexico's penalty box.

YELLOW CARD to Mexico's Nestor Araujo for a high foot on a sliding tackle on Marcos Acuna.

From the initial 15 minutes, Mexico are going in heavy on the challenges and Argentina have not had time to build from the back. Also Messi is coming from deep to get the ball.

A couple of challenges flying around in the first 8 minutes. That's been the thing to note down. Fiesty stuff already.

KICK-OFF!

The anthems are done and we are ready for kick-off.

The players are in the tunnel and the anthems are next.

Three changes for Mexico: Out go Jorge Sánchez, Henry Martín and Edson Álvarez for Néstor Araújo, Andrés Guardado and Kevin Álvarez.

STAT courtesy BBC: Argentina are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Mexico in all competitions (won seven, drawn three) since a 1-0 loss in the 2004 Copa America.

The players are out for the warm-ups.

Mexico Subs: Talavera, Edson Alvarez, Vasquez, Arteaga, Romo, Rodriguez, Jimenez, Funes Mori, Cota, Gutierrez, Pineda, Sanchez, Martin, Antuna, Alvarado.

Argentina Subs: Armani, Foyth, Tagliafico, Paredes, Pezzella, Alvarez, Rulli, Romero, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Gomez, Dybala, Jeremias, Molina.

Five changes to Argentina's team that lost to Saudi Arabia: Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Guido Rodriguez and Alexis Mac Allister replace Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes and Papu Gomez.

Argentina XI: Martínez; Montiel, Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Acuña; De Paul, Guido Rodríguez, Mac Allister; Messi; Di Maria, Lautaro Martínez.

Mexico XI: Ochoa; K.Álvarez, Araújo, Moreno, Montes, Gallardo; Guardado, Herrera, Chávez; Lozano, Vega.

Argentina must be under immense pressure heading into this game. Could that work against them?

It would surely be a heartbreaking end to Lionel Messi's World Cup aspirations if they are knocked out of the group stages in Qatar.

Mexico come into the game after holding Poland to a goalless draw. Gerardo Martino's men could have lost that game, but goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa became the hero by saving a penalty from Robert Lewandowski to ensure Mexico sneaked a point.

El Tri can never be taken lightly and will look to rub salt into Argentina's wounds.

Not long ago, Argentina were firm favorites to win the FIFA World Cup. Now they're in a situation nobody would've predicted following the defeat to Saudi Arabia.

If that doesn't explain the sheer unpredictability and beauty of the World Cup, nothing else will.

D-DAY FOR MESSI! - And it's time! Lionel Messi and Argentina face a do-or-die clash against Mexico in the FIFA World Cup tonight.

Another defeat would knock them out of the tournament as they aim to recover from that shocking slip-up to Saudi Arabia in the opening game. The margin for error is very less for Messi and company, can they get the job done? Join us as we find out through our LIVE coverage!