Lionel Messi, the FC Barcelona and Argentina striker, scored his 42nd international goal for Argentina on Wednesday against Nigeria.
Messi scored two against Nigeria, putting his team up 3-2.
Against Iran several days ago, he scored his 40th goal. For Barcelona, Messi has 243 goals.
Messi scored in his first World Cup game back in 2006 but he failed to score in Argentina’s next two games at the time. He also didn’t score for Argentina during the World Cup in South Africa four years ago.
The all-time leading scorer for Argentina is Gabriel Batistuta, who has 56 goals.
AP: Argentina fields Messi-led 4-3-3 against Nigeria
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — Nigeria and Argentina are not resting any of their starters in their final Group F match on Wednesday and sticking with the lineups they had in their previous matches.
Argentina will again rely on captain Lionel Messi — with two World Cup goals in Brazil already — moving wide and deep in a three-man attack behind Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is also keeping the lineup he used in Nigeria’s previous match, against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Vincent Enyeama will try to remain the only goalkeeper yet to concede a goal at this World Cup, while striker Peter Odemwingie has been called up again after scoring the winner against Bosnia.
Already qualified for the second round, Argentina needs at least a draw to win Group F. If Nigeria wins it will top the group, while a draw is enough to make sure of advancing.
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Lineups:
Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama; Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa; Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, John Obi Mikel, Michael Babatunde; Peter Odemwingie, Emmanuel Emenike.
Argentina: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Federico Fernandez, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo; Fernando Gago, Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria; Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero.
