Rio Ferdinand lauds Lionel Messi’s display against Australia as ‘the best individual performance’

Pundits have praised Lionel Messi after his brilliant performance in Argentina’s round of 16 win against Australia.

Messi scored a brilliant goal in the first half to give his team the lead and in the second half he created countless chances for his teammates to finish the game off.

Speaking in BBCRio Ferdinand said: ‘Messi has had the best individual performance we have seen in this World Cup by a mile.

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The former Manchester United defender continued: “The crowd, it was almost divine after everything he had done. We were almost seeing the reaction of the fans to everything he did.

Messi opened the scoring for his team after 35 minutes, following an unusually quiet start to the game, with Alan Shearer even saying: “His touch seemed out of place.”

This brought the 35-year-old to life and Messi performed at his best for the remainder of the knockout phase clash.

Alan Shearer joined in the praise for the PSG man saying: ‘[We are] so lucky to be at the stadium to see it. What a performance from him in the second half.

‘His hunger, desire and ability to open him up to his teammates. He is the story, but what a performance from Australia.