WHY HAS MESSI FAILED TO SHINE IN RUSSIA LIKE RONALDO?

MARTIN KEOWN

YOU want your stars to perform but Jorge Sampaoli has not given them a platform to succeed. We hardly saw Messi all game. The coach also picked the wrong keeper. There has been a clamour for Franco Armani to play but he went with Caballero.

JAMIE REDKNAPP

CRISTIANO RONALDO embraces the pressure of playing for Portugal. He does not have the ghosts of previous World Cups — such as Diego Maradona — weighing him down. Last night, Messi did not look like he was enjoying playing for Argentina.

IAN LADYMAN

WE will ask what is wrong with Messi but why not celebrate the brilliance of Luka Modric instead? The Croat has a sackful of medals with Real Madrid and now has a defining contribution to this tournament as well. What a supreme goal that was.