Ahmed Musa’s brace gave Nigeria a vital 2-0 World Cup win over Iceland in Volgograd, handing Lionel Messi and Argentina a lifeline as a three-way battle for qualification behind Croatia in Group D goes to the wire.
Musa opened the scoring just after half-time with a stunning half-volley, before embarking on a blistering run down the flank and then cutting inside and slotting into the net to double the Super Eagles’ lead on 75 minutes.
The victory means Nigeria move into second in Group D on three points from their two games – three behind Croatia on six but two ahead of Iceland and Argentina, who are on one point apiece.
An Iceland win would have spelled near-doom for two-time World Cup winners Argentina and Lionel Messi, but Musa’s heroics have blown things wide open for the group finale on Tuesday.
After the game, Musa was hailed for handing his team a win and Argentina a lifeline – and was feted for doing more for the Argentinian World Cup cause than the misfiring Messi.
Ahmed Musa has now done more for Argentina's World Cup campaign than Leo Messi *runs and hides*
— Daniel Edwards 💚 (@DanEdwardsGoal) June 22, 2018
You know it’s a crazy World Cup when Ahmed Musa is contributing more to Argentina than Messi managed to. Ahhh good times.
— ㅤ (@RmadridFever__) June 22, 2018
When Argentina need a favour 🦅 pic.twitter.com/AgqUSIKdNV
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 22, 2018
Others said that Musa had actually served Messi’s World Cup cause more than his Argentinian teammates.
Ahmed Musa has helped Leo Messi more than any of his Argentine team-mates have
— La Senyera (@LaSenyera) June 22, 2018
NIGERIA TAKE THE LEAD! Great control and finish by Musa! Somewhere Lionel Messi is doing cartwheels round his hotel room. #NGA #ISL #WorldCup
— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) June 22, 2018
Safe to say, Ahmed Musa has been much more useful to Messi than the entire Argentina team
— Nãif 🎗 (@NaifFCB_) June 22, 2018
Ahmed Musa Biggest Fan Messi #NGAISL pic.twitter.com/Yo60P1OIeC
— S A M ❤️🇪🇸❤️🇵🇰❤️ ® (@sameerawastic) June 22, 2018
As the debate has raged over what Lionel Messi’s poor performances in Russia mean for his status as arguably the greatest ever to play the game, some suggested two-goal hero Musa – who now has four World Cup goals to his name in total after bagging two in Brazil four years ago – was a new candidate for the GOAT honors.
Ahmed Musa> Lionel MessiIf you want to argue, ON your location
— Oluniyi Gates (@oluwapower) June 22, 2018
Is that musa or messi I see? pic.twitter.com/OnZVosmStv
— U.G (@osas_obano) June 22, 2018
Messi on move to Nigeria: “it’s been a dream of mine for years to play with the likes of Ahmed Musa and Iwobi. Finally I can play with a team who give me service. Argentina is in the past. I came here to win. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xnA4Vrp98D
— MUFC_Source_ (@MUFC_Source_) June 22, 2018
Some picked up on the fact that Musa had notched a double against an Icelandic defence that Messi had failed to breach in Argentina's group game - when he missed a penalty - and Cristiano Ronaldo hadn't managed in Portugal and Iceland's Euro 2016 encounter.
Musa out here doing what Ronaldo and Messi couldn't do against Iceland. SCORE. My new GOAT. Put some respect on his name.
— matec (@dejalayo) June 22, 2018
Messi needs to learn from Musa🔥🔥🔥
— 3500 News (@9jaCelebNews) June 22, 2018
Russia certainly seems to bring the best out of Musa, who has played much of his club football for CSKA Moscow. He moved to English Premier League team Leicester City two years ago after a prolific spell in the Russian capital, but failed to settle and spent much of last season on loan back at CSKA.
Group D is now set for a blockbuster finale on Tuesday when Iceland take on already-qualified Croatia in Rostov and Nigeria face Argentina in St. Petersburg.