Argentina v Mexico player ratings: Messi 7, Di Maria 6; Gallardo 7, Lozano 4

Copa America holders claim crucial 2-0 win at Lusail Stadium to get World Cup campaign up and running

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  ARGENTINA PLAYER RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez – 7. Saved a Vega free-kick on 44 and kept a clean sheet, but while Argentina won, they’ve looked lacklustre in the World Cup so far. AFP

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  Gonzalo Montiel – 5. Right-back who plays for Sevilla, disappointing. Booked. AFP

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  Nicolas Otamendi – 7. The 34-year-old kept Mexico’s forwards quiet as he won everything in the air and on the ground. AP

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  Lisandro Martinez – 7. A first World Cup start for the Man United player, he wasn’t as involved as Otamendi to his side, but he won every tackle he went in for. EPA

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  Marcos Acuna – 6. Argentina’s other full-back who plays for Sevilla, he – and Argentina’s defence – looked much better when they moved to five at the back. PA

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  Angel Di Maria – 6. Mediocre game in which he was peripheral, though he did set up Messi for the crucial opening goal. AP

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  Rodrigo De Paul – 6. Played too deep and ran into Mexican midfielders too often. Not creative enough. AFP

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  Guido Rodriguez – 6. Started with four at the back and switched to five for the second half, which worked for him. Getty

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  Alexis Mac Allister – 6. Struggled to get the ball to Messi. Surprised that Paredes was dropped from the midfield as five changes were made to the side lost to Saudi Arabia. AFP

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  Lionel Messi – 7. Insisted all was well with his fitness. Runs into a well organised Mexican defence were a limited threat. Nowhere near the levels he could reach. Body language as off as his free-kicks…then he got the breakthrough. Brilliant first touch and strike from 25 yards on 64. Set up the second. And that was enough. PA

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  Lautaro Martinez – 5. Headed a Messi cross over after 40 but was offside in front of the huge 88,966 crowd. Little service, little threat. AFP

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  SUBS: Enzo Fernandez (Rodriguez 57’) – 8. Brought energy. Scored the second, curling in a shot after cutting in from the right with beautiful technique after 87. AFP

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  Nahuel Molina (Montiel 63’) – 7. The Atletico Madrid right back sliced a shot well wide after 70. EPA

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  Julian Alvarez (Martinez 63’) – 7. Was through on 76 and passed into the box but the move broke down as Mexico became more stretched. AFP

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  Cristian Romero (Mac Allister 68’) – 7. Helped see the game out for the Argentina win and while they still have to beat Poland to be sure of qualification, it’s a far better situation than before the game. Reuters

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  Exequiel Palacios (Di Maria 68’) – 7. Another correctly called sub who made a difference to the game. Getty

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  MEXICO PLAYER RATINGS: Guillermo Ochoa – 5. Commanded his box well for the most part but seemed to see Messi’s strike late. A similar story with Fernandez’s strike that put the game out of sight. AP

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  Kevin Alvarez – 5. Didn’t do enough as part of a disjointed display by Mexico. Replaced in the 66th minute by Raul Jimenez. AP

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  Nestor Araujo – 6. Played the ball out from the back well but couldn’t get close to attackers for the most part, exemplified early-on when he picked up a booking for a poor challenge. Getty

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  Cesar Montes – 7. Dominant in the air and positioned himself astutely to deal with incoming crosses into the box. Looked comfortable in the heart of Mexico’s defence. AFP

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  Hector Moreno – 6. Assured for the majority of the game with most of Argentina’s best efforts coming from outside of the box. Made the switch to left-back later on in the game. AFP

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  Jesus Gallardo – 7. Often stood up well to the task when challenged by Argentina’s attacking players. Could have done more in terms of his play going forward. AFP

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  Luis Chavez – 5. Tried to get things moving in the right direction for Mexico, but there didn’t seem to be much fluidity or structure in their attacks. Frustrating overall. Getty

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  Hector Herrera – 6. Read the play well and established control for Mexico in some of their best attacking moves. Herrera was also aggressive when challenging for possession but switched off in the build-up to Messi’s opener. AFP

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  Andres Guardado – 7. A strong midfield display as the experienced player was quick to apply pressure and won the ball on a number of occasions, though his match was cut short as he was substituted with an injury just before half-time. AFP

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  Hirving Lozano – 4. Struggled to find space up front with play breaking down in the times that it did get to him. Eventually replaced in the 72nd minute by Alvarado. EPA

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  Alexis Vega – 4. Tested the goalkeeper from range with a free-kick that was easy enough to deal with. An overall difficult performance against a tough battle with Argentina’s central defenders. Replaced after Messi’s goal by Antuna. AFP

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  SUBS: Erick Gutierrez (Guardado 42’) – 5. Had to apply more pressure to Fernandez before the second goal, with the Benfica man known for his threatening shots from range. AFP

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  Raul Jimenez (Alvarez 66’) – 5. Showed intensity to attack spaces but faced similar struggles as Argentina’s centre-backs dealt comfortably with the danger. Getty

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  Uriel Antuna (Vega 66’) – 5. Did little to change Mexico’s fortunes, with another anonymous display from the attacker. Getty

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  Roberto Alvarado (Lozano 73’) – N/R. Didn’t get going when introduced. Wasteful in possession. AFP

Sublime goals by Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez earned Argentina a 2-0 win over Mexico in a pulsating atmosphere at the Lusail Stadium on Saturday to get the South Americans' World Cup campaign up and running.

Stunned 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in their opening Group C match, Argentina knew defeat would send them out of the tournament but they started poorly, struggling to cope with Mexico's high press as Messi was denied time and space to operate.

Argentina's captain was anonymous in the first half, his sole contribution of note a header that ballooned over the bar, as his team failed to carve out a single decent chance.

But picked out by Angel Di Maria just outside the Mexico box in the 64th minute, Messi made no mistake, arrowing a low shot through a crowd of defenders into the corner. Fernandez doubled the lead in the 87th with a wonderful curling effort.

The win took Argentina up to second place on three points, one behind leaders Poland, whom they play in their last group match. Saudi Arabia are third, level on points with Argentina but with an inferior goal difference.

In the photo gallery above, Andy Mitten has provided his player ratings for Argentina, while Adam Brown offers his verdict on Mexico. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.