Maradona drama is a problem for Argentina and Messi

When Lionel Messi ran to the corner and sank to his knees, the enduring image of Argentina scrambling into the World Cup's last 16 was set.

Their number 10, in the blue and white stripes, his head tilted and fingers vertical, about to be swamped moments later by adoring team-mates.

But all those cameras not positioned in Messi's corner of the Saint Petersburg Stadium quickly turned their gaze upwards and slightly to the right.

Diego Maradona, with his arms grappling his own chest, was grimacing towards the sky, a crazed look in his eyes of ecstasy, relief and delirium.

This was the duopoly of Argentina's 2-1 win over Nigeria on Tuesday.

Not Messi and Marcos Rojo, the scorer of the winning goal in the 86th minute, nor even Messi and Jorge Sampaoli, the team's estranged coach.

But Messi and Maradona. On the pitch, off the pitch, present and past. One trying to win the trophy that has eluded him in an otherwise extraordinary career, the other watching on, having had his own story defined by it.

- Inspiration or distraction? -
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- Constant comparisons -
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Messi has described Maradona as his "inspiration" while only this week Maradona directed a personal message to Messi, saying: "Nothing is your fault. I love you and I respect you as always."