How Lionel Messi broke Nigerians' hearts at Olympics leaving Anichebe, Odemwingie devastated

Lionel Messi has developed a reputation as Nigeria's nemesis on the football pitch, consistently leading Argentina to victory in their encounters.

Across various tournaments, Lionel Messi has never tasted defeat against Nigeria.

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.

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.

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.

Angel Di Maria latched onto the pass, raced towards the goal, and expertly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Ambruse Vanzekin.

"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.

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.

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.

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.