LIONEL MESSI WATCH: How the Argentina captain fared in World Cup opening draw with minnows Iceland

• e-mail

Lionel Messi dragged Argentina into this World Cup. Playing under a third different manager of their qualifying campaign, his hat-trick in their last group match against Ecuador was pretty much the only reason they made it to Russia.

The Barcelona forward stated he would swap any of his club honours for a World Cup and enjoyed an impressive Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign before failing to deliver in the 1-0 defeat by Germany in the final.

Messi turns 31 next Sunday, so this could possibly be his last chance to dominate a World Cup and emulate his No 10 predecessor Diego Maradona, although it is inconceivable he will not be selected for Qatar 2022 if he is still playing.

Lionel Messi may be facing his last chance to drag Argentina to World Cup glory in Russia

And is if the weight and hopes of a nation were not enough, the pressure on him to perform in this match against Iceland hit unprecedented heights after nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo's heroic hat-trick for Portugal against Spain on Friday night.

This is how the La Pulga Atomica (The Atomic Flea) got on in his 125th senior international appearance in Argentina's opening group game against World Cup first-timers Iceland, in the electric atmosphere of Spartak Moscow's stadium...

FIRST-HALF 

0 MINS: The match has not even started and a shot of Messi in the tunnel is beamed on to the stadium's big screens to send an already frenzied crowd into meltdown. 

The fans only stop chanting his name when they spot predecessor at No 10, Maradona, cheering from the stands. Some 200 photographers then jostle to get a snap of Messi leading Argentina on to the pitch.

4 MINS: Messi's first touch is an inch-perfect free-kick into the Iceland penalty area, but Nicolas Otamendi's imperfect header means no opening goal.

7 MINS: Iceland skipper Aron Gunnarsson drags Messi to the ground with a rugby tackle to show that is the only way they know how to stop him.

Just 11 minutes in and Messi glides past the Iceland players as he is chased by Gylfi Sigurdsson

11 MINS: In a run reminiscent of Maradona at his finest, Messi glides and ghosts his way through a sea of Iceland players and sets up a chance for Sergio Aguero that results in a corner.

14 MINS: The Barcelona legend shows his hard side with a crunching midfield tackle to regain possession for Argentina and set up another attack.

17 MINS: Messi's first shot of the 2018 World Cup is a curling left-footed effort from distance that is punched away by relieved keeper Hannes Halldorsson.

44 MINS: After a relatively quiet spell there is a Messi rarity when he fails to control the ball, attempting a tricky trap from a pass over his shoulder.

Messi looks at the ground in bemusement as he is shut out by Iceland in the first half

SECOND HALF 

55 MINS: A slow start to the second half suddenly comes to life with another twisting run at the Iceland defence before creating another chance for Aguero, which ends in an Argentina corner.

63 MINS: MESSI'S PENALTY IS SAVED. Just when it looks like the moment of glory has come, Messi has a penalty superbly stopped by Halldorsson, who keeps the ball out with a flying stop to his right. Not the best spot-kick but the Argentina fans forgive him in a flash with relentless chants of Messi, Messi, Messi.

Disaster for the Argentina No 10 as he misses a penalty and the chance to give his side the lead

Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson flung himself to his right to deny Messi's attempt

65 MINS: Desperate to make up, Messi demands the ball and tries a tricky run and shot. It was a prime illustration that he is now possibly trying too hard to carry the team on his own.

66 MINS: Hacked down again, he is presented with a chance to emulate Ronaldo's free-kick goal from 30 yards out. No dramatic Ronaldo preparations or dramatic stares and no goal as his shot flies over the bar.

72 MINS: Another free-kick presents another chance for redemption. He takes more time with this one only to drive a shot into the Iceland wall.

80 MINS: With Iceland fans celebrating and Argentina's getting anxious, he lets fly with a left foot curler inches wide of the post.

He also blew a number of chances to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick against Spain

86 MINS: Time for Messi's eighth shot of the match, but it is wide of the target again and barring a dramatic finish this is going to be a day to forget for the captain and his team-mates.

90 MINS: More twists and turns on the edge of the area end with a right foot effort. But again it flies tantalisingly off target.

90+5 MINS: Looking tired and forlorn, an injury-time free-kick is literally the last shot of the match. It crashes into the wall and the referee blows for full-time as the skipper smashes the ball into crowd in frustration. A fairytale finish for Iceland, but a nightmare for Messi - and Round One to Ronaldo!

Messi endured a nightmare World Cup opener which concedes the advantage to Ronaldo