Messi: Argentina have finally arrived at WC

LUSAIL, Qatar -- Lionel Messi said Argentina person yet arrived astatine the World Cup aft his extremity helped bushed Mexico 2-0 astatine Lusail Stadium.

Shocked by Saudi Arabia successful their opening crippled successful Group C, Argentina bounced backmost Saturday to enactment themselves successful presumption to suffice up of their last lucifer against Poland connected Wednesday.

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Defeat to Mexico would person meant an aboriginal exit successful Qatar.

But Messi, who scored the archetypal extremity with a fantastic interaction and decorativeness successful the 2nd half, said Argentina's run is yet underway.

"We knew that contiguous we had to win, that different World Cup started for america and we knew what to do," helium said. "We cannot fto our defender down present and we person each finals left.

"We knew that the effect from our fans would beryllium similar this and I deliberation we complied."

Messi scored his 2nd of the tourney to yet interruption the deadlock against a stubborn Mexico, who started good astatine Lusail Stadium.

Substitute Enzo Fernandez got a precocious 2nd to marque the effect safe.

But afterward Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni acknowledged it was Messi who had changed the people of the game.

"He defined the lucifer due to the fact that that is what helium knows however to do," Scaloni said. "He has a radical down him who enactment him. The lucifer changed due to the fact that we person large players and besides we person Leo."

After the game, Messi was besides forced to play down concerns implicit an injury.

There was speculation up of the World Cup that helium was suffering from an ankle occupation and helium admitted helium twisted it during the decision to Saudi Arabia.

He was besides connected the extremity of immoderate dense challenges against Mexico but was capable to decorativeness the game.

"I don't cognize wherefore determination were truthful galore things said astir it," Messi added. "The different time everyone was talking astir my ankle and I did not person thing incorrect with it. But past successful the past infinitesimal [against Saudi Arabia], I rolled it over.

"I said each week that I didn't person thing incorrect with it and past successful the last infinitesimal I twisted it. But it is fine. I was capable to bid usually afterward close on with the squad and I did not bid unsocial astatine immoderate moment."

With his goal, Messi drew level with Diego Maradona's fig of World Cup goals and appearances.

The 35-year-old skipper has scored 2 of Argentina's 3 goals present successful Qatar. Messi is Argentina's all-time apical scorer, led them to Copa America glory past twelvemonth and has won the Ballon d'Or a grounds 7 times.