After being compared to legendary Alpine skier Alberto Tomba, Lionel Messi will attempt to navigate his way around Poles and guide Argentina into the last-16 at the World Cup.
Argentina face Poland needing a win to guarantee qualification to the knockout stage here.
A draw will send them through if Saudi Arabia and Mexico also draw, or if the Mexicans win by up to a two-goal margin.
Poland head coach Czeslaw Michniewicz says tonight is more than simply a shootout between Messi and Robert Lewandowski, but knows his side will need a big effort to stop the Argentina legend.
“At our team briefing we talked about Alberto Tomba on the slope; he was able to avoid everyone,” said Michniewicz, whose side top Group C, one point ahead of Argentina.
“So I need to put my players in positions to make a difference because, if not, Messi will score easily. You need more than one person to halt him.”
Michniewicz added: “We rely on these great strikers, but an individual cannot win alone.
“It is not only a battle between Lewandowski and Messi — it is not tennis, it is not one-on-one, they are not serving!
“Robert needs his team-mates just the same as Leo. Playing Argentina, you have to prepare for when you concede and to avoid panic when that happens.
“How to stop Messi is a great question. The world has been thinking about it for several years and I don’t think we will find an answer. At 35, he says this is his last World Cup, so I expect he will be very ambitious.”
