Messi's mates finally step up when Argentina needs it most
All Lionel Messi needed was a little help from his friends.
On Tuesday against Nigeria, the Argentina talisman got exactly that in progressing to the knockout stage after teetering on the brink of a calamitous World Cup exit in St. Petersburg.
That's where the flaw lies in comparisons between La Albiceleste's current star and the one lionized for capturing the last of Argentina's two World Cups.
Video of Diego Maradona's performance at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico shows the diminutive attacker slaloming through opponents with captivating elan on the way to two-goal performances against England and Belgium. It's easy to assume that Maradona's individual display and his involvement in 10 of Argentina's 14 goals in the tournament was the sole reason for victory.
The truth is, Argentina's 1986 side was so much more than just Maradona. Jorge Valdano was clinical playing slightly ahead of the now bulbous legend, bagging four goals, including one in an electric final against West Germany. Jorge Burruchaga's match-winner capped off a brilliant tournament in the midfield, providing a vital source of support in a final where Maradona was heavily marked.
Cruel comparisons
Compare that to the squad Messi lined up alongside for the Group D debauchery at the hands of Croatia, and it's hard to see many similarities between the two players at the World Cup beyond the Carolina blue striped shirt and undersized statures.
Blame Jorge Sampaoli for that. Against better judgment, the energetic tactician shuffled his deck after the opener with Iceland. He ditched the back-four for a three-man defence, and started Enzo Perez - who wasn't even on the original 23-man roster - in the midfield next to the lethargic Javier Mascherano. The middle of the park was thoroughly dominated by Croatia. Marcos Acuna and Eduardo Salvio were ineffective as wingbacks, and after Sampaoli made his third and final change in the 68th minute, criticism became an inescapable cloud over the national team.
Messi's Rosario-born brethren and influential ball-playing trio Angel Di Maria, Giovani Lo Celso, and Ever Banega all watched from the bench as Argentina slumped to a shocking defeat. It was clear that the Barcelona star lacked even the support he'd received against Iceland, where he had 11 shots compared to one against Croatia.
In a must-win match versus Nigeria on Tuesday, whether because Sampaoli was struck by reason or moved to avoid a dressing-room mutiny, Argentina returned to a back-four, gave Messi a point man in Gonzalo Higuain, and inserted Di Maria and Banega into the starting XI. With a slick-passing, forward-surging Banega alongside Mascherano in the midfield, Argentina suddenly had a composed source of service for Messi. The Sevilla star's perfectly weighted ball from the halfway line eluded Kenneth Omeruo's head before landing on Messi's left thigh, and what the left-footer did next was a slice of absolute footballing genius.
Ever the companion
Banega's impact cannot be overlooked. After failing to make the 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup, the 28-year-old was recalled to the team under Gerardo Martino, and a more complete player emerged after being employed in a more attacking role under Unai Emery at Sevilla. It was a change from the job he did while playing in his homeland, and it offered Argentina a two-way midfield option that emphasised creativity. "Banega plays differently to the way he did with Boca. He's an attacking player now," Martino offered in 2016. "We try to make sure he feels comfortable and can do the things he does."
Banega has become the perfect complement for Messi, and a source of relief from starting Lucas Biglia or leaning too heavily on a flat-footed Mascherano. Banega completed 88 percent of a match-best 90 passes against the Super Eagles while chipping in with four tackles in a well-rounded performance that raises one question: Why did Banega play just 36 minutes against Iceland before riding the pine against Croatia? That's for Sampaoli to answer, though after the showing against Nigeria, it's doubtful that he'll make the error again.
Banega's sage and veteran presence was among a handful of constructive exhibitions from a core all too familiar with Argentina's perilous recent displays at major tournaments. Gabriel Mercado - who played 120 minutes in the Copa America Centenario final defeat to Chile - fired an incisive cross to Marcos Rojo minutes after the Manchester United defender escaped a penalty for handling in Nigeria's area, and in Rojo's second World Cup, he became the unforeseen hero with his third Argentina goal in 58 caps.
An enthralling last-16 clash with France now awaits Argentina, and if there's one takeaway from Tuesday's victory, it's that even Messi needs a little help. There's a stark disparity between the performances of La Albiceleste's central figure when he has support versus when he doesn't. Now there's a comparison worth making.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)