Lucky red? Messi wears ribbon sent to him by reporter's mum at World Cup

A red ribbon may have given Lionel Messi and Argentina the luck it needed at the World Cup.

Argentina star Lionel Messi revealed he wore a lucky ribbon sent to him by a reporter's mum after leading his team into the last 16 at the World Cup.

Messi opened his account at Russia 2018 with a goal in Argentina's crucial 2-1 win over Nigeria Tuesday. The star forward struggled at the World Cup before that classy strike, which helped Jorge Sampaoli's men clinch second spot in Group D.

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Messi, 31, later revealed that he wore a red ribbon, sent to him by a reporter's mum following his team's draw with Iceland, around his left ankle. "Look," he said, showing the ribbon under his sock when asked about it by the stunned reporter.

Argentina, who has struggled so far in Russia, had Marcos Rojo to thank for progression after the defender's 86th-minute winner against Nigeria. Sampaoli's team faces France in the round of 16 in Kazan Saturday.