Lionel Messi: Destiny - new documentary goes inside Argentina's World Cup win

A caller BBC documentary tells the wrong communicative of however the large Lionel Messi yet won the World Cup.

In an hour-long film, the BBC delves into that occurrence with input from immoderate of those progressive - including players Emiliano Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez, and manager Lionel Scaloni.

Here are a fewer takeaways from Lionel Messi: Destiny...

A sleepless nighttime followed decision by Saudi Arabia

Argentina went into the tourney arsenic 1 of the favourites, and connected the backmost of a 36-game unbeaten run.

But their assurance was rocked arsenic they mislaid their opening Group C crippled 2-1 to Saudi Arabia successful 1 of the biggest World Cup shocks of each time.

"It was the hardest nighttime of my beingness - I couldn't sleep," recalls goalkeeper Martinez. "I was acrophobic of getting knocked retired of my archetypal World Cup."

The Aston Villa player, 30, compares the crippled to a boxing lucifer successful which 1 idiosyncratic gets knocked out. "We couldn't combat back," helium says.

Mac Allister played 'like helium was successful his backmost garden'

Brighton midfielder Mac Allister was 1 of the astonishment stars successful Qatar - and topped the BBC Sport subordinate rater arsenic Argentina bushed France connected penalties successful the final.

The 24-year-old flourished alongside Messi, Enzo Fernandez and Angel di Maria.

"He's a implicit midfielder," says erstwhile Argentina right-back Pablo Zabaleta.

Scaloni is besides afloat of praise for Mac Allister, saying: "He showed america thing that we didn't cognize astir him - helium doesn't consciousness pressure.

"It's similar he's playing successful his backmost garden."

Argentina's players felt astatine location successful Qatar

Scaloni did a large occupation of creating the close ambiance for his players successful Qatar - including importing immoderate location comforts.

At the time, it was reported the squad had 2,000lbs (900kg) of nutrient flown implicit from South America.

"Everything was perfect," says Mac Allister. "It felt similar home. We played cards and drank [caffeine rich] mate tea... and adjacent had Argentine meat!"

Zabaleta says those 3 things are "like a religion" for Argentines.

Messi became 'that atrocious boy' against the Netherlands

Argentina came done a peculiarly fiery quarter-final that featured 18 yellowish cards - 2 of which resulted successful the sending-off of Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries.

After the last whistle, the Argentina players taunted their opponents, with Martinez - who saved 2 penalties successful the shootout that followed a 2-2 gully - shouting astatine Netherlands brag Louis van Gaal.

"I heard Van Gaal saying that successful a punishment shootout they had the advantage," helium said aft the game. "I deliberation helium needs to support his rima shut."

Even the typically mild-mannered Messi took contented with a remark from Van Gaal, who had said the Argentina skipper did not "participate much" erstwhile his squad mislaid the ball.

When Messi scored during mean time, helium ran consecutive to the Dutch seat and cupped his ears.

That celebration, arsenic the movie explains, was inspired by erstwhile team-mate Juan Roman Riquelme, who felt severely treated by Van Gaal astatine Barcelona.

But galore were amazed by this caller broadside to Messi.

"We are much assertive than the nationalist squad helium had before," says Martinez. "He was astir apt becoming a small spot much similar america - that atrocious boy."

Martinez is similar 'a kid connected the pitch'

Martinez was Argentina's shootout leader erstwhile again successful the last arsenic La Albiceleste bushed the defending champions.

His antics drew plentifulness of comment, arsenic helium threw the shot away, danced, and celebrated successful beforehand of France's players.

Referring to the jig helium did aft Aurelien Tchouameni missed France's 3rd penalty, helium says: "I ne'er danced the mode I danced aft the 2nd pen that they missed. Never successful my life.

"That's me. I'm a kid connected the pitch. I don't spot what's going to hap next."

• Will they carve a brighter aboriginal down under? Ten Pound Poms starring Michelle Keegan and Warren Brown
• Could eating nuts trim your waistline? Michael Mosley chews implicit the astonishing benefits of these nutrient powerhouses