Messi: Late winner a wonderful way to keep Argentina in World Cup

Lionel Messi said Marcos Rojo’s brilliant late winner was a “wonderful” way for Argentina to stay in the World Cup.

Messi’s early strike was cancelled out by a Victor Moses penalty to leave Nigeria in pole position to follow Croatia through from Group D.

But Rojo crashed home a cross from fellow defender Gabriel Mercado in the 86th minute to book a last-16 clash with France.

Many have suggested Messi carries this Argentina side, but it was the Barcelona superstar who jumped on Rojo’s back to celebrate the late winner in St Petersburg.

And the Argentina captain was thrilled his hopes of capturing a first major international title after three defeats in World Cup and Copa America finals are still alive.

“We were confident that we were going to win this game,” Messi said to TyC Sports.

“We did not expect the complication of being level and we had to go and look for the match, which means the nervousness, the anxiety, the time, everything.

“It’s wonderful to have won it this way, it’s a well-deserved joy.

“I knew that God is with us and he was not going to leave us out.

“I thank all the people who are here, for all their sacrifice, and all those who are in Argentina who were always with us. 

“The shirt of the national team is above all.”

Rojo, meanwhile revealed he had predicted his own impact.

“I had told the guys that I was going to score,” he said to TyC Sports.

“It’s worth a lot, we needed it, we are stronger than ever and now the cup is starting for us.”