Argentina player ratings vs Nigeria: Lionel Messi rises to ultimate occasion
Left midfielder: Angel di Maria – 6/10
On purely a work rate level, Angel di Maria scored full marks.
But a player of his attacking quality needs to be doing more than just tracking back and chasing after the ball.
He left it to Lionel Messi to illuminate the game, and had little effect for Argentina going forward.
Right midfielder: Enzo Perez – 6.5/10
Perez was often on the end of Messi’s adept touches, and the pair linked up well on the right hand side.
Still yet to hold down his place in a competitive team but optimistic signs are there.
Centre midfielder: Ever Banega – 8/10
The best player on the pitch apart from you know who.
Every ball he threaded through landed, and the Sevilla man provided the assist for Messi in the 13th minute.
Showed a real attacking edge and creativity, something Argentina were desperate for having scored just once in their previous two matches.
Centre midfielder: Javier Mascherano – 5/10
A workhorse as expected, and had a deep wound on his face at full time to show for it.
Clumsy holding in the penalty area conceded the spot kick, though, and the former Liverpool man never found his passing range.
Mascherano often had to atone for his own errors. A few crunching tackles might have gone wrong, but a laudable display in terms of tenacity and motivation.