Lionel Messi lit up the World Cup on Saturday with a mesmerizing individual performance but profligate Argentina still only beat Nigeria 1-0 with a goal from Gabriel Heinze in Group B.

Heinze headed home a Juan Sebastian Veron corner as early as the sixth minute but it was Messi who took center stage with his jinking runs and fiery shooting.

He was unlucky not to have scored two or three times against a Nigerian side who also carved out a few good chances of their own.

Argentina’s coach Diego Maradona attracted almost as much attention from the cameras, spending the entire game ranting and raving on the sidelines.

Argentina join South Korea, who beat Greece 2-0 earlier in Port Elizabeth, on three points at the top of the group.