Messi shocks World Cup journalist with ribbon sent to him by reporter's mother

A red ribbon may have been the good luck charm Argentina needed to escape the group stage in Russia

Did Lionel Messi give away one of the secrets to his success against Nigeria? 

The Argentina star stunned a journalist when he revealed that he wore a lucky ribbon sent to him by the reporter’s mother after leading his team into the last 16 at the World Cup.

Messi opened his account at Russia 2018 with a goal in Argentina’s crucial 2-1 win over Nigeria on Tuesday.

The star forward had struggled at the World Cup before that classy strike, which helped Jorge Sampaoli’s men clinch second spot in Group D.

Messi, 31, later revealed he wore a red ribbon, sent to him by a reporter’s mother following his team’s draw with Iceland, around his left ankle.

“Look,” he said, showing the ribbon under his sock when asked about it by the stunned reporter.

“Really?” the journalist says in reply, before Messi confirms that it is in fact the same ribbon. 

“You are about to give me a heart attack, seriously,” the reporter then claims. 

Argentina, who have struggled so far in Russia, had Marcos Rojo to thank for progression after the defender’s 86th-minute winner against Nigeria, but maybe a little bit of luck played into it as well. 

Either way, the Albiceleste are still alive in Russia, and if Messi has found his striking boots you would not put it past them to make a deep run. 

Sampaoli’s team won’t have an easy road though. They face France in the round of 16 in Kazan on Saturday.

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