Messi Finds The Back Of The Net As Argentina Edge Bosnia And Herzegovina 2 to 1

If there was ever a time to find the back of the net once again, then it was today for one of the world's best players. It was the 800 LB gorilla in the room when it came to Lionel Messi and the FIFA World Cup. The expectations of a nation and the shadow of a legend like Maradona have been constantly shoved in the face of the four time golden boot winner. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Argentina exited the competition with Messi taking a total of 32 shots without even one goal. In 2012, Messi broke the record for most goals in a calendar period when it came to club play, but there was no world cup title. The first game for Argentina today in the Estádio Maracanã (one of the most legendary stadiums) was against a newcomer in the world cup game in Bosnia And Herzegovina, a team that is happy to be a European name in one of the world's greatest competitions. Unfortunately for Bosnia, they would have one heck of a hiccup in the opening minutes. It looked as if Messi was going to have a chance to either score or volley a pass into the box for someone to head. Instead, when Messi sent in the ball, it hit the knee of defender Sead Kolašinac and it trickled into the back of the net for the world cup record of fastest own goal.

Still throughout the first half, we kept wondering if this was the time that Messi was finally going to get on the scoreboard because you never want to finish a game with an own goal result. I do have to admit that for most of the game, Bosnia's midfield and defense kept Messi out of it. They were constantly dispossessing him whenever he touched the ball. Bosnia also threatened Argentina's goalkeeper Sergio Romero, but lucky for him Marcos Rojo and Ezequiel Garay were on there a game. 60 plus minutes had already gone by and yet no legitimate goals from any of the teams. Well, that was until Lionel Messi finally showed up to the game. Messi played a beautiful give and go, but it was when he received the ball back that all the magic happened once again. Messi is driving the ball towards the net and you know in the bottom of your heart that he is about to hit it with his left foot. I have to tell you something and it's that I love it when I am right because Messi rocketed the shot that it hit the near post and it bounced right in to give Argentina the 2 to 0 lead. Bosnia would finally add one of their own off a beautiful play that saw Vedad Ibišević make an incredible run towards the net. When he receives the ball, he hits it right past Romero to cut the lead in half, but time would run out for Bosnia. It was a definite incredible first showing from Bosnia and I would expect them to cause some damage in the group. For Lionel Messi and co., you can only hope if you are an Argentine faithful that this is just the beginning.