Messi ignites Argentina’s World Cup before Fernández finishes off Mexico

This might just be his World Cup after all. Lionel Messi must battle football opponents and the sands of time in equal measure this month but here he dismissed both with a flourish that, whatever happens to him and Argentina from here, will be treasured by those privileged to bear witness. His side were a slip away from oblivion on an intense, pressured and niggly night where potential ramifications seemed to stifle everyone in view. Messi was firmly among that number until breaching a limited Mexico with a thrilling goal that guarantees him at least one more dance on this stage and has the potential to change the course of this tournament.

Six days after its opening, this felt like the first big ticket event of Qatar 2022. It is difficult to suspend one's profound unease around the foundations on which this competition was built but, taking it purely on its own merits, the atmosphere inside this gaping arena was nothing short of electric. The host nation could not have asked for a more thrilling audiovisual display to show its global audience: the hymns from galleries flowing with light blue echoed under the roof and were almost matched in volume from the cacophony emitted by large pockets of Mexicans, outnumbered but insistently present, clad in green.

Had Scaloni changed too much? They showed little cohesion despite an improved share of territory as the half continued, the decision to drop Leandro Paredes from the midfield looking particularly suspect. Messi sought pockets of space but found one of Mexico's three centre-backs, usually Moreno, stepping out to smother. He managed to nod ambitiously over and forced Ochoa to punch away an angled set-piece; Lautaro Martinez was wayward with a headed half-chance but the most eyecatching moment came at the other end when Emiliano Martinez, perhaps keen to offer the cameramen a spectacle away from the surrounding collage, dived to catch Vega's free-kick.