ARGENTINA’S CARRYING MESSI
Lionel Messi (top) finally scores, but Argentina advances only after Marcos Rojo (16) delivers the tiebreaking goal in the 86th minute against Nigeria.
From his thigh to his foot to the back of the net, Lionel Messi finally scored a goal at this year’s World Cup.
The exquisite strike from the Argentina great sparked the first of several celebrations from an animated Diego Maradona, who screamed, shouted and made obscene gestures — and raised concerns for his health.
Argentina staved off elimination with a 2-1 win over Nigeria on Tuesday in St. Petersburg, getting a late goal from Marcos Rojo. Maradona gave the crowd both middle fingers after the 86th-minute winner.
A short time later, videos posted on social media showed Maradona needing help out of the stands and into an adjoining luxury box at the stadium. He appeared to have his eyes closed and a later photo showed paramedics attending to him.
An Argentine newspaper reported Maradona was able to leave under his own power and two hours later he was photographed smiling at an airport. Another photo on Twitter appeared to show him sitting on a plane.
Messi’s goal — his 65th for Argentina — was surely enough to impress even Maradona.
From a long pass over the defense by Ever Banega, Messi caressed the ball with his left thigh, took another touch with his left foot, then delivered a smooth rightfooted finish into the corner.
Messi fell to his knees and pointed upward in celebration. At the same time, Maradona crossed his arms with his hands on his shoulders and looked to the sky.
“I knew that God is with us,” Messi said, “and he wouldn’t let us get eliminated.”
Messi, who later hit the post off a free kick, and Banega controlled the game in the first half. Rojo finished it off in the second by cushioning a volley with his right foot into the bottom corner and ensuring Messi’s quest for a first World Cup title continued.
Argentina will play France on Saturday in the round of 16 in Kazan. If Argentina wins and Portugal beats Uruguay, Messi would face Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarterfinals.
Without that late goal from Rojo, the 31-year-old Messi might have retired from international soccer for a second time, and for good.
Instead, it was Messi who was at the center of the celebrations. His teammates formed a circle around him while striker Gonzalo Higuain cried nearby. Messi then clenched his fist as he turned toward the fans.
“He’s above everybody else,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said. “The most important thing for Leo is his human side. He cries. He suffers. He’s happy when Argentina wins. I know him.
“Many people say Leo does not enjoy playing for Argentina, but I do not agree. He enjoys and suffers like all the other players.”
Croatia 2, Iceland 1: Croatia ended Iceland’s chances at the World Cup and helped Argentina advance.
Ivan Perisic capitalized on a defensive error to score a 90th-minute winner at Rostov-on-Don, giving Croatia first place in Group D. The Croats will face Denmark on Sunday in Nizhny Novgorod. Iceland could have finished second in the group with a victory, but instead Argentina advances.
Iceland, which qualified for its first World Cup, managed a draw against Argentina in its opener before losing to Nigeria and Croatia.
“There is too much quality in Croatia,” Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said. “I am disappointed but I am really proud of the character and the performance of the boys.”
Peru 2, Australia 0: Peru won’t go home winless.
After failing to score in its opening two matches, the team finally gave its fans a reason to celebrate when it ended Australia’s hopes of advancing to the knockout round with a win in Sochi. Andre Carrillo’s 18th-minute goal was Peru’s first in a World Cup since its last appearance in 1982. Peru hadn’t won a World Cup match since 1978.