MESSI STILL ON TRACK FOR ULTIMATE PRIZE—AND LEGACY COMPARABLE TO MARADONA’S

DOHA—Lionel Messi’s dream of matching the late great Diego Maradona’s Argentina legacy lives on.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or-winning forward pulled level with Maradona on eight World Cup goals and a record 21 appearances in the tournament for his country on Saturday.

Messi’s brilliant low strike from outside the box sparked a 2-0 win over Mexico to take them to second in Group C, just as their hopes of victory were starting to fade and fear was setting in.

Argentina’s talisman is two goals short of their World Cup top-scorer Gabriel Batistuta’s tally of 10 goals, but his winner should bring more opportunities to overtake “Batigol” in Qatar.

The real dream is emulating Maradona’s 1986 World Cup win, but Messi can content himself for now by levelling Maradona’s World Cup appearance record and goal haul, two years and a day after “El Pelusa” passed away.

The curly haired playmaker inspired Argentina to victory in Mexico in 1986, as well as playing in the 1982, 1990 and 1994 editions.

Some insist Messi cannot be considered the greatest of all time unless he lifts the trophy and in Argentina, Maradona’s gleaming World Cup legacy often aids him in comparisons, his flawed genius winning out against Messi’s near-perfection.

Maradona scored five and set up another five as Argentina waltzed to their second World Cup trophy 36 years ago in Mexico.

Almost a year later, Messi was born, but Argentina has not managed to lift the trophy in his lifetime.

The Albiceleste captain managed to inspire the team to second place in 2014, with Argentina losing 1-0 in extra-time against Germany in the Rio de Janeiro final.

The Paris Saint-Germain No 10, playing in his fifth World Cup, converted a penalty in Argentina’s opener but they crashed to a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia.

Against Mexico he sporadically burst into life, but his team was largely suffocated by their energetic opponents.

Early in the second half Messi sent a freekick over the crossbar from a dangerous position, as Argentina’s desperation grew.

Eventually, he broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, finishing exquisitely beyond the reach of Mexican cult hero Guillermo Ochoa, with Enzo Fernandez adding a brilliant second goal later on.

Maradona scored only 15 goals for Argentina in 41 competitive appearances, compared to Messi’s 49 in 115, but some led him to World Cup glory.