3-2 to La Albiceleste in their final Group F game at the World Cup 2014.
Messi scored a brace in the win over the Super Eagles at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, but Nigeria still advanced to the Round of 16 as runners-up with four points with Iran losing 3-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the other group game.
“Messi is one heck of a player. You can’t take that away from him. He’s blessed,” the 52-year-old tactician told the media after the match.
“I think there are other players in the Argentina squad who are very strong, but Messi is from Jupiter.
“We gave too much respect to the Argentines and did not play our game in the first half.
“We played a bit more aggressive in the second half.
“Congratulations to the Argentina team, I wish them all the best in the tournament.”
