Messi breaks another World Cup record

Many have known Lionel Messi to be one of the greatest players of his generation, and his goal against the 'Super Eagles' was a testament to his longevity in the game.

Messi made his debut at a World Cup in 2006 at the age of 18, where he managed to score a goal on just his eighth appearance for his national team against Serbia and Montenegro in a 6-0 thrashing dealt out by his Argentina side.

While the Barcelona forward was not able to find the target in the 2010 tournament in South Africa, he returned to form in the next edition in Brazil. At the age of 27, Messi scored four crucial goals, especially his strike against Iran in the group stage, to help his national side in to the final. Unfortunately for him however, his scoring form ended there as Argentina lost out on a third World Cup triumph to an extra-time winner from Germany's Mario Gotze.

'La Albiceleste' were facing a much more difficult situation heading in to their final group game against Nigeria in Russia, with Messi not getting on the scoresheet in their first two games as they faced the prospect of falling at the first hurdle in the competiton.

Having turned 31 just days before, the stage was set for the Argentine captain to score in his third World Cup and help to turn his country's fortune's around in the tournament. 

He very much stepped up to the plate, slotting home a wonderful goal early in the match to put his name in to the history books as the only player to have scored as a teenager, in their 20s and 30s on the biggest stage in world football.

Argentina next face a tie against France in the competition's round of 16 on Saturday.