World Cup 2018, Argentina vs Nigeria Live Football Score: Messi On Spotlight As Argentina Face Nigeria

Held by Iceland and humiliated by Croatia, Argentina's FIFA World Cup 2018 could already have been all but over, but Lionel Messi and Co. will have one final shot at staying alive when they face Nigeria in their last Group D clash at Saint Petersburg Stadium on Tuesday. The 2014 World Cup runners-up Argentina, who are on the brink of elimination from the World Cup at the bottom of Group D with a single point, need to beat Nigeria to qualify for the round of 16. Victory against the Africans, who Argentina have beaten in all four previous World Cup meetings, will secure qualification for the last 16 as long as Iceland don't shock already-qualified Croatia. (Live Score: Nigeria vs Argentina) (Live Score: Iceland vs Croatia)

Even if Iceland claim a first-ever World Cup victory, Argentina could still progress on goal difference. For all his heroics with Barcelona at club level, Messi is still often compared unfavourably in his homeland for his inability to recreate Maradona's success for the national team. Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final four years ago and consecutive Copa America finals in the following two years, but all three ended in defeat.

Live Updates of 2018 FIFA World Cup, Argentina vs Nigeria, straight from Saint Petersburg Stadium

23:10 IST: Team formations --

And now, in a bit more detail... #NGAARG #ISLCRO pic.twitter.com/wAnOGovKnL

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018

22:35 IST: Iceland -- Hannes Halldorsson; Birkir Saevarsson, Sverrir Ingason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Hordur Magnusson; Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Aron Gunnarsson, Emil Hallfredsson, Birkir Bjarnason; Gylfi Sigurdsson; Alfred Finnbogason

22:30 IST: Croatia -- Lovre Kalinic; Tin Jedvaj, Vedran Corluka, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Pivaric; Milan Badelj, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric; Marko Pjaca, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic

22:25 IST: Nigeria -- Francis Uzoho; Bryan Idowu, William Ekong, Leon Balogun; Victor Moses, Wilfred Ndidi, John Obi Mikel (capt), Oghenekaro Etebo, Kenneth Omeruo; Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa

22:20 IST: Argentina -- Franco Armani; Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Enzo Perez, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega; Lionel Messi (capt), Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria

22:15 IST: The starting XI of Nigeria and Argentina have been announced. Angel Di Maria included, Sergio Aguero benched. The starting XI of Iceland and Croatia too have been announced.

Who's ready for the final matches of Group D?

The team news is in...#NGAARG#ISLCRO pic.twitter.com/GT69ocJxzL

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018

22:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the matches between Nigeria-Argentina and Iceland-Croatia.

And his 31st birthday on Sunday only served to highlight how time is running out for Messi to win a major international tournament. Without the five-time World Player of the Year, though, it is highly unlikely Argentina would even have qualified. Messi salvaged a disastrous campaign under three different managers with a hat-trick away to Ecuador in the Albiceleste's final qualifier.