The entire world will probably be watching Lionel Messi on Tuesday because along with his Argentina team-mates they have to put in an effort to rescue their 2018 World Cup campaign when they clash with Nigeria.
After two rounds of action in Group D, the 2014 runners up are staring elimination in the face with Betway Kenya offering some enticing odds for the match to be played in St Petersburg.
Argentina need the revival after a surprise 1-1 draw against little-fancied Iceland before capitulating to a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Croatia which makes the clash with the Super Eagles decisive.
So much of this pre-tournament conversation was whether - in what could be his final World Cup - Messi would finally have international decoration, as great rival Cristiano Ronaldo did with Portugal in Euro 2016.
However, a torrid beginning indicates Messi and his team-mates have all to do to reach the knock-out phase - the Albiceleste should defeat Nigeria in St Petersburg and expect Iceland fall to the already-qualified Croatia.
The fallout from Thursday's damaging loss was colossal, together with mythical 1986 World Cup winner Diego Maradona wading in to the mess into criticise head trainer Jorge Sampaoli and his methods.
In addition to that, reports have surfaced that the Argentina camp staged a mutiny against Sampaoli - talk that has been dismissed by the country's FA president Claudio Tapia as press hoopla.
"Really [journalists] are the fourth power, do not forget that they are communicators and that with this function that you have to be able to communicate...they transcend, install and distort, they used to talk about teams, how they play, today everything is distorted, but we're going to leave that for after the World Cup," he said.
"They have seen the coaching staff direct the practice, the squad training, they have seen that a lot of what has been said is a lie, we ask for a gesture of support."
As for Nigeria, a draw will be adequate as long as Iceland fail to overcome Croatia but William Troost-Ekong is aware that writing off Messi - who turned 31 on Sunday - can prove a critical error.
"If Messi wakes up it will be a problem. But we will work for it not to happen," he said.
"It's not the first time we face a team with many good players. We will do our thing and we have chances."
People to Watch
Nigeria - Ahmed Musa
He's talked a great game, enjoying comparisons left between himself and Messi and suggesting he would be on the right track to replicate his brace against Iceland. Today it is time to get Musa to back that up.
Lionel Messi
Who else? He was responsible for the opening draw against Iceland after missing a penalty and watched on bemused as his goal keeper and defenders a huge mess against Croatia. Is this his final outing on the global stage?
Key OPTA Information
- Four of the eight games between Nigeria and Argentina have come at World Cup finals – Argentina winning all four contests.
- Argentina are currently enduring their longest winless run in World Cup finals history, (W0 D2 L2).
- Nigeria are looking to win successive World Cup games for the first time since 1998 – three points will also guarantee a place in the knockout stages for the fourth time.
- Argentina's Lionel Messi has had 12 shots in this World Cup so far but has yet to score – that's eight more attempts than any other Argentina player.
- Nigeria attacker Ahmed Musa is now his country's all-time top scorer in World Cup games with four goals.