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Former Barcelone maestro Lionel Messi was instrumental in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as Argentina defeated Nigeria to clinch the gold medal.
Lionel Messi has developed a reputation as Nigeria's nemesis on the football pitch, consistently leading Argentina to victory in their encounters.
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Across various tournaments, Lionel Messi has never tasted defeat against Nigeria.
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A History of Wins
From their U-20 encounters to the World Cup and even the Olympic games, Messi has ensured Argentina emerges victorious every time they faced Nigeria.
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09:50 - 26.07.2024
Messi vs Ronaldo: Which GOAT performed better at the Olympics?
With the 2024 Paris Olympics underway, we look at Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's legacies at one of the world's most prestigious sporting events.
2008 Olympics: A Golden Encounter
The 2008 Beijing Olympics saw Messi play a pivotal role in Argentina's gold medal victory over Nigeria. This wasn't their first meeting, as both teams faced off in the 2005 U-20 World Cup final.
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09:44 - 25.07.2024
MYTHBUSTER Were the Flying Eagles robbed in that 2005 final against Argentina?
Were the Flying Eagles hard done by in the World Youth Championship decider 19 years back?
Legendary footballer Diego Maradona predicted a comfortable 2-0 Argentina win, but Nigeria proved to be a tough opponent. Despite the scorching Beijing heat, the Dream Team held their own until a moment of brilliance from Messi.
The then 21-year-old Messi received the ball just before halftime and delivered a delightful pass, splitting open the Nigerian defence.
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Angel Di Maria latched onto the pass, raced towards the goal, and expertly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Ambruse Vanzekin.
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15:25 - 23.07.2024
Olympics: How Messi ignored Barcelona and triumphed over Nigeria in Beijing 2008
We recall how Barcelona almost stopped Lionel Messi from making the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"Both the goal and the assist were deserving of a gold medal," reads a message on Olympics.com, highlighting the impact of Messi's play.
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Argentina secured a narrow victory, leaving the Nigerian players, including Osaze Odemwingie, Onyekachi Apam, Victor Anichebe, Efe Ambrose, Sani Keita, and over 200 million Nigerians heartbroken.
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Messi's Olympic Appearances
Despite his passion for the Olympics, Messi's appearance in Beijing remains his only one to date. Fans in Argentina hoped he would return for the 2024 Paris Olympics as one of the overaged players allowed, but Messi ultimately will not participate.
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Argentina lost their Olympic opener against Morocco in a controversial version. The Albiceleste had a late goal disallowed for offside, sparking frustration from fans, including Lionel Messi.
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