Lionel Messi has dragged Argentina to top spot qualification in their World Cup group after again starring in his side's 2-0 annihilation of Poland on Wednesday evening.
Messi, Argentina's record goalscorer with 93 strikes to his name, didn't find his way onto the scoresheet in their final group stage win, but still caught the limelight despite missing a controversial first-half penalty.
The 35-year-old whom many consider is the greatest footballer of all time, marvelled with trademark runs and pinpoint passes against their lifeless Polish opposition who looked levels below the South American side.
Argentina secured safe passage to the knockout stages of the World Cup as group c leaders, lining up a favourable tie against former Olympic game opponents Australia on Sunday.
Tournament hype based around Messi has been rife as the nicknamed 'magician' appears at what is expected to be his fifth and final World Cup, attempting to replicate the title-winning success of fellow Argentinian hero Diego Maradona.
Pundits Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand enhanced conversations around the superstar as they applauded his contribution to Argentina's second win of the tournament.
England and Premier League legend Shearer highlighted Messi's 'isn't as quick' as he once was during his prime years at Barcelona, but admitted that this hasn't stopped his patriotic teammates from relying on the star in crunch moments.
'He didn't produce the goal we wanted but some of his passes, we have seen his ability running with the ball, he isn't as quick as he was but everyone looks to him to drag them through matches,' Shearer told BBC One.
Messi missed a 39th minute penalty with the scores level at 0-0 as Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny got a strong hand to the playmaker's effort, denying him a sixth consecutive national team goal.
An emphatic Rio Ferdinand admitted the Argentina legend 'wasn't at his best' against their European opponents but despite not scoring lauded Messi for being the star of the show.
'He wasn't at his best today but best three/four dribbles were Messi, the best player was Messi. No one like him.
'You spend time watching him and he looks so disinterested sometimes and then bang he lights the game up.
'He has played a few games, the amount of games at that level, he is a game-changer,
