Lucky ribbon: Messi shocks reporter at World Cup

Lionel Messi gave an Argentine journalist the shock of his life after the Nigeria match by revealing he was wearing a good luck ribbon sent by the reporter’s mother in his boot.

Messi was under immense pressure from media and supporters in his homeland to deliver in Tuesday night’s clash with Argentina facing elimination from the World Cup at the group stages.

And the talisman delivered in spectacular fashion by scoring a wonderful goal to open the scoring, allowing a long ball from Ever Banega to drop over his head and taking two delicate touches on his thigh and foot before smashing home at full pace.

After the match Messi was speaking to the media when he was greeted by TV reporter Rama Pantarotto, who mentioned that his mother had sent a red ribbon to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner ahead of the game.

To Pantarotto’s shock, Messi said he remembered receiving the good luck charm before showing he had worn the ribbon tied around his ankle during the game.

The reporter was left in apparent disbelief as he looked to the sky and later embraced Messi, revealing that he was left in tears by the gesture.

‘My dear mother sent a gift to Messi of a red ribbon,’ Pantarotto tweeted alongside the video. ‘And the master tied it on his left ankle. I cry!’

Messi was also seen giving his shirt to Nigeria goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa as a souvenir after the third-choice stopper collared his opponent in the tunnel.

The opener was cancelled out by a second-half Victor Moses penalty but Marcos Rojo scored a sublime late volley to ensure Argentina qualified for the last 16.

-Report by DailyMail