World Cup: Mesmerising moment of Messi magic mutes Mexicans

THE clash between Argentina and Mexico was, for the first half, largely forgettable.

But the one second-stanza moment of Lionel Messi magic that lit up the stadium will forever be remembered.

After a barren first 45, the game needed something – or someone – to inject some excitement.

Argentina had been threatening incessantly, with Angel Di Maria and Messi calling the shots.

However, the shots were not reaching the target, much to the joy of the green and red-clad hordes of Mexican fans, who cheered at every Messi mistake (yes, even he makes them).

They jeered openly in the 48^th minute when the little maestro won a free kick just outside the box then proceeded to tamely reproduce a rugby conversion.

But they were silenced at the hour mark as he received the ball in much the same place as where he had missed the dead ball kick.

This time he delivered: the trademark left-footed laser shot that flashed low into the corner of the Mexican goal (1-0).

In one tiny moment, the embarrassment of the Saudi Arabia loss was forgotten as new hope was breathed into the group stage life.

Masters at maintaining possession, Argentina continued to frustrate Mexico for the remaining half hour.

They did better than that, with Federico Fernandez curling a beauty into the far top corner to make it 2-1 as the Mexican hopes of snatching a point evaporated.

The result sets up appetizing third match fixtures for the group on Wednesday, with all four teams having a mathematical chance of making the knockout phase.

It could well go down to goal difference, or even via the fair play rule.