Lionel Messi said Argentina had lifted “a weight off our shoulders” after the 2-0 win over Mexico, sparked by his brilliant second-half goal, that breathed life into their teetering World Cup campaign.
It was, as Messi pointed out, a moment of arrival for one of the tournament favourites. Argentina would have been eliminated from the competition had they lost but improved significantly after a tentative first half and Messi, who retains hope of winning the prize that has eluded him during an unparalleled career, articulated the sense of profound relief.
