The Barcalona star, who clocked 27 on Wednesday, featured for only 63 minutes, completing 38 passes and firing four shots at the Nigerian goal area.
Browsing: Lionel Messi
Argentina topped Group F while Nigeria also advanced despite the loss
The birthday boy, Lionel Andres Messi Cuccitini or Lionel Messi as he is better known, is unlikely to have overdone the festivities when he celebrated his 27th birthday on the eve of Argentina’s game against Nigeria
However, the Asian outfit were outstanding and well worthy of a point, which would have been a huge boost to their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages
The Chelsea midfielder played out 90 minutes of the scoreless draw as he had 94 passes to his credit
The match was the first World Cup game at the Maracana since Brazil lost to Uruguay in the final round of the 1950 tournament, which remains a deep wound in Brazilian football history
“To beat Brazil in the final, in their own country, would be an orgasm,” the controversial 1980s star told Buenos Aires sports daily, Ole
The Middlebrough loanee opined that the Brazil 2014 World Cup won’t be business as usual for Nigeria, boasting that the three-time African champions will be all out to redefine their fortune against South American heavyweights, Argentina, Iran and debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Toon striker is now joint third in United’s all-time Premier League goalscorer chart with 43 goals alongside Andy Cole, after netting in the 3-0 win over Cardiff City
With the loss, Barca’s title hopes are now on life support as a win by Atlético Madrid on Sunday would leave the Blaugrana four points back, with just five games left to play
The visitors somehow managed to weather the remainder of the early storm and settle into their usual rhythm, driving Atlético back towards their own goal
Ronaldo came within inches of his hat-trick and equalling Lionel Messi’s record of 14 Champions League goals in a season again seven minutes from time, but he had to settle for just a double on the night as his low left-footed effort came back off the post and rebounded to safety
In the night’s other match, Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the quarterfinals for the second straight season after coming from behind for a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen and a 6-1 victory on aggregate
“Messi doesn’t need to win the World Cup to be the best player in the world,” Maradona, who inspired Argentina to the title in Mexico in 1986, told La Nacion
It gives Barcelona a crucial two away goals advantage heading into the second leg at the Nou Camp, where City will have plenty of work to do if they are to qualify for their first Champions League quarter finals
The result means both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid can overtake Barcelona atop La Liga if they win their matches this weekend
Ronaldo defeated Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery to grab the award
The Portuguese international has been in phenomenal form in 2013
It took Cristiano Ronaldo 57 minutes to register his first effort on goal, but he was denied as Victor Valdes pushed the ball away, while Karim Benzema rattled the crossbar with a thunderous strike
The stars appearing include Abidal, Mascherano, Materazzi, Demicheli,
Bojan, Kun Agüero and Robinho