Messi calls on Angel for Argentine Olympic gold

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING, (AFP) — Football superstar Lionel Messi rewarded Argentina in gold for fighting for his right to be at the Olympics when he set up the winning goal in their 1-0 triumph over Nigeria in the men's final on Saturday.

Messi disentangled himself from Nigeria's tight marking to put Angel Di Maria clear early in the second half and di Maria chipped over advancing goalkeeper Ambruse Vanzekin for the game's only goal.

On the penultimate day of the Beijing Olympics, with 32 finals, the football was played under a blazing midday sun to make use of the 91,000-seat Bird's Nest before athletics in the evening.

Fittingly it was one of the sport's most valuable commodities, Messi, who was central to the outcome after the 21-year-old's appearance in the Games was...