Argentina 1 Iran 0 player ratings: Lionel Messi or Ashkan Dejagah - who rated higher?

Man-for-man marking from the World Cup Group F encounter

Lionel Messi celebrates his winning goal against Aregentina (Getty Images)

Argentina required heroics from Lionel Messi as the talismanic forward scored an injury-time winner to secure qualification from World Cup Group F.

The Barcelona man bent home a decisive goal in the dying embers of a match in which the hard-working Iranians did enough to take all three points themselves.

Both goalkeepers looked to be unbeatable as Sergio Aguero had Argentina's best chance and Reza Ghoochannejhad came close on more than one occasion for the underdogs, who also saw a strong penalty claim turned down as they slipped to a 1-0 loss.

It was a cruel result for Iran who had defended doggedly against Argentina's much-vaunted attack but like so many other sides before they could not quite stop Messi.

So how did each player get on in the closely fought tie?

Click on the gallery below to find out.

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