Messi relaxed, ominous for opponents

Lionel Messi is now relaxed. He is scoring and smiling, just the way he does those for his club Barcelona. This time at the World Cup, Argentina's jersey of white and light blue in vertical stripes agrees well with him. His nightmare with the national team seems to be over.

Lionel Messi of Argentina scores his team's second goal and his second of the game during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Nigeria and Argentina. Photo: Getty Images

Arguably the greatest club footballer ever, the mild-mannered goal-scoring machine could do little donning the national jersey. Argentina waited on and on for Messi to rediscover, at this world stage, the magic he generated for Barcelona over the years and to emulate the World Cup feats of his country's football god Diego Maradona.

The burden of expectation must have been too big for the little man as he continued to struggle on the international stage, managing only one goal in two disappointing World Cups for Argentina in 2006 and 2010.  "Messi gives hundred percent to club, not to the country," is the criticism back home that gained ground more and more as he failed time and again.    

Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Nigeria and Argentina at Estadio Beira-Rio on June 25, 2014 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Photo: Getty Images

The record four-time Fifa world player of the year must have heard critics right this time, as he is seemingly doing everything he can to silence them in Brazil. Argentina won as he struck home two goals in the first two games. And three of his four goals in the three matches came though strokes of sheer brilliance, a clear indication that Messi is on song. At 27, the short and shy man is more desperate. Messi knows fully well that it is going to be his last best chance to cross the final hurdle. He must kiss the Cup to become football's 'greatest of all time', alongside Pele and Maradona.

Remember Argentina's barely overcoming Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first game? Messi created the third-minute own goal by Bosnia and then went on to score a trademark individual goal in the 65th minute. Collecting the ball deep and exchanging passes with Gonzalo Higuain before darting past a pair of defenders, he slammed home via the base of the left-hand post. So many of his 382 goals for Barcelona were so much more breath-taking than this one! But look the way Messi celebrated it. He leaped up in the air as high as possible and roared on top of his voice. The unbearable pressure went off from his shoulders. He just scored a World Cup goal after eight long years. And, from now on, he can play the way Messi plays.

Messi is getting better with each match. Fans and football buffs will continue to talk about his curling left-footer against Iran and the lethal free-kick against Nigeria.  He has started to bloom.

Coach Alejandro Sabella should have been happy and worried at the same time. Happy as Messi is now playing without any pressure and worried as Argentina is still heavily reliant on Messi. And who doesn't know it is the team that wins matches, not an individual? At the knock-out stage, one unlike Messi day can cause a disaster for Argentina.