Rio Ferdinand reveals where Messi plotted Nigeria’s fall

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has revealed where Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi plotted Super Eagles’ fall in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Nigeria at Saint Petersburg on Tuesday.

Ferdinand noted that Messi’s half-time team talk with his teammate was all the inspiration they needed to beat Nigeria.

Argentina were leading 1-0 at half-time and heading into the last-16, before a Victor Moses penalty in the second half drew Nigeria level.

If the game had stayed at 1-1, Argentina and Messi would be have been dumped out of the World Cup.

Messi fired Argentina in front in the first half and his team-mates replied in kind in the second when Marcos Rojo scored a dramatic 86th minute winner.

Messi was snapped giving a half-time team talk, and Ferdinand explained why such a gesture was vital for Argentina.

“We saw the pictures before of Messi in the tunnel talking to the team,” Ferdinand said on the BBC

“When the great Lionel Messi is speaking to them team-mates, they have to listen, they have to come together.

“Without that unity, you can’t achieve anything.”

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