Lionel Messi is stepping away from international football after a remarkable 21-year career with Argentina.
At 39, Messi departs as Argentina’s record goalscorer, having found the net 125 times in 207 appearances. His honours include the 2022 FIFA World Cup and two Copa América crowns.
Messi’s record against Nigeria
Messi played Nigeria’s Super Eagles on four occasions during his senior career, winning every match and scoring three times.
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His most productive performance against Nigeria came on June 25, when Argentina beat the Super Eagles 3-2 in their last Group F fixture at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Messi scored twice in the contest.
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In Porto Alegre, he put Argentina ahead in the third minute by reacting first after Ángel Di María’s shot struck the post and rebounded into his path.
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Nigeria quickly levelled through Ahmed Musa, but Messi regained Argentina’s advantage shortly before the interval with an outstanding free-kick into the upper corner.
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Musa completed his brace soon after the restart, before a deflected Marcos Rojo strike gave Argentina the winning goal. Both nations progressed from the group.
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Messi found the net again when Argentina and Nigeria met in the group phase of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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Argentina needed three points to make the last 16, and Messi opened the scoring in the 14th minute in Saint Petersburg. He brought down Éver Banega’s superb long delivery and calmly finished beyond the Nigerian goalkeeper.
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Victor Moses restored parity from a second-half penalty, but Rojo settled the game late with a volley as Argentina claimed a 2-1 win and Nigeria were knocked out.
That match marked Messi’s last senior encounter with the Super Eagles.
Early meeting with the Flying Eagles
His connection with Nigerian football began well before those senior fixtures, at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands.
In the final, Messi converted two penalties as Argentina defeated the Flying Eagles 2-1 to lift the trophy, a result that underlined his arrival on the international stage.
Overall, Messi scored three times in four senior games against Nigeria, while Argentina never failed to win. Those matches form part of a memorable international legacy built on individual records, major silverware and landmark achievements.
