Rise of a Football God

The next day…

[FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semifinal]

[Match 2: Nigeria vs Argentina]

[Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA]

[Date: July 14th, 2026]

[Kick-off: 20:00 local time]

[Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)]

Over 78,000 football fans were in attendance at the SoFi Stadium.

They were here to witness history be made.

The roof vibrated with raw energy, green jerseys clashing against seemingly endless waves of sky blue. The sky blue waves dominated most of the stadium, as tens of thousands of fans pulled out for Messi and Argentina in numbers.

The weather inside was cool, outside was heatwaves, while the atmosphere inside was football fire.

Fans dubbed the game the Old Giants vs the New Blood.

Most predicted it to be a rout, Argentina blowing Nigeria out of the water.

Argentina, reigning champions, world-respected, war-tested. Lionel Messi, still magic. Alvarez, Enzo, Mac Allister, heirs apparent.

Nigeria, fearless, fast, and full of fire. Led by the 20 year old FC Barcelona superstar, Samuel Moses, the breakout player of the tournament, already dragging giants to their knees.

This was more than football. This was legacy vs destiny.

The starting lineups were released approximately an hour and 30 minutes before the game.

Nigeria started in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Stanley Nwabali in goal, while ahead of him was the defensive quadruple of Ola Aina, William Troost Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Zaidu Sanusi.

In midfield was the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, while the creative players up field were Samuel Chukwueze, Samuel Moses, and Ademola Lookman.

Victor Osimhen captained and led the side as the striker.

He led with the captain's armband, but everyone knew the true leader of this Nigerian side on the pitch… Samuel Moses.

Argentina started in a 4-3-3 formation with Emiliano Martinez in goal, while ahead of him was the defensive quadruple of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, and Marcos Acuna.

In midfield was the trio of Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Alexis Mac Allister, while the attacking trio comprised Messi, Alvarez, and Nico Gonzalez.

This time, it was Africa vs South America.

FWEEE!

The whistle blew. And immediately, chaos followed.

A lot of people, fans called Nigeria frauds. They predicted that Argentina would expose them finally, revealing their true nature to the world.

Well, Nigeria shut some loud mouths up early.

As early as the 7th minute of the game, Nigeria stunned the world!

Sam, from the first moment, charged into the game. After skipping past De Paul and luring Otamendi out, he slipped the ball to Osimhen who quickly rifled it into the roof of the net.

Clinical. Stunning. Ruthless.

1-0 Nigeria.

The stadium trembled. Drums. Screams. Wild celebration.

But Argentina didn't stay quiet, they responded fast to such audacity.

Provoked by the form of the Nigerians, Lionel Messi exploded.

In the 19th minute, he put on the vintage Messi garment.

From the right wing, he cut inside, wriggling away from pressure before curling a left-footed shot from 25 yards out that bent around Troost Ekong before dipping into the bottom corner with lethal precision.

1-1.

Pure silence from Nigerian fans. Applause even from neutrals.

From there, it was war.

In the 34th minute, Stanley Nwabali made a stunning save to keep Nigerian in the game.

Alvarez shot point-blank. Nwabali dove full stretch and pushed it over.

Massive for Nigerians all around the world.

Argentina dominated possession, but Nigeria stayed dangerous, and in the 43rd minute of the game, they reminded Argentina of just how dangerous they could be as they struck a second time with ruthless efficiency.

Out of nowhere, Lookman stole possession high up, passed wide to Chukwueze, who chipped it back post.

Sam stormed in and headed it home.

2-1 Nigeria.

BOOM!

SoFi erupted.

Sam stood tall, arms raised, face of a boy with the fire of a warrior, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration.

Halftime came and Nigeria was leading 2-1!

The world of football was in shock.

When second half started, Argentina mounted pressure. If they underestimated this Nigerian side before, now, they dared not anymore.

Mac Allister dictated tempo in the middle of the park. Messi roamed.

In the 62nd minute, Messi went at it again, this time from a freekick.

It beat the wall, beat the goalkeeper, hit the inside of the post… and spun. Nigeria breathed. Argentine fans groaned in frustration.

In the 78th minute, Enzo Fernandez went at it again.

And this time, it finally bore fruit.

With quick pass movement, Enzo Fernandez exchanged a slick one-two with Alvarez at the top of the box and drilled a low shot under Nwabali.

2-2.

Tension sliced through the air like a razor.

The final minutes arrived. And drama returned.

It was the 90th minute of the game.

Free kick. 25 yards. Dead center. Messi stood over it. Whispered something.

The whistle blew. Messi did a short run, then…

BAM!

He curled it perfectly over the wall.

The ball found its home inside the net.

GOAL!

3-2 Argentina.

The stadium exploded, literally!

Limbs everywhere. Argentina's bench ran. Scaloni knelt, fists clenched. Nigerian fans fell silent, despair mixing with disappointment.

That was it.

Or so we thought.

In the 90th plus 3rd minute.

Aina surge down the flank and was fouled 30 yards out. Last chance. Sam took the ball. Pushed everyone away.

The tension in the stadium at this point was as thick as a quagmire.

"BOOOOOOO…!!!" Argentine fans around the stadium drowned him with boos, trying to affect his concentration.

Sam closed his eyes, then he took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes, they blazed with an unquenchable fire.

He jogged, then with a strike that will be replayed forever, he lifted the ball over the wall, bending it into the top left.

GOAL!

3-3.

Martinez didn't move. The world did.

"MY GOD… NIGERIA ARE ALIVE!" The commentator screamed in a shrill voice.

"My God… the boy has done it again, SAMUEL MOSESSSSS!"

Sam ran into the stands, celebrating like a mad man, tears in his eyes. Nigeria wasn't done.

The game went to extra time.

Nigeria smelled blood in extra time. The momentum was theirs.

In the 97th minute, Alex Iwobi who already came in for Frank Onyeka surged into the box, and unleashed a shot that was parried by Martinez, falling helplessly into Osimhen's path.

The Napoli striker didn't hesitate to tap into an empty net.

4-3.

Argentina came undone.

"AND NIGERIA ARE AHEAD!" The commentator screamed.

"My God! What a game!"

"Who say this coming at the 90th minute? Football… what a sport!"

The noise in the stadium was deafening after that goal. Argentina staggered.

And yet, Nigeria was not done yet. They didn't want to leave anything to change, they didn't want to leave an opening for their opponents to regain their groove. Not with Messi in that squad.

In the 114th minute, Sam completed the script.

Going on another mazy run, dancing through tired legs, he laid it across for Chukwueze who slotted it home.

5-3.

Game. Set. History.

Argentina tried. Messi dragged shots. Alvarez fired over. But it was done.

FWEEEE!

The final whistle felt like a war bell to the Nigerian players.

[FULL-TIME (AET): Nigeria 5-3 Argentina]

Samuel Moses, still 20, had just stopped Messi, his idol's last dance.

A legend was born at the SoFi Stadium… a new Football God.

Sam won another man of the match award after his 2 goals, 1 assist, 10 successful dribbles, and 13.4 kilometers covered.

The commentator waxed lyrical at the end.

"Ladies and gentlemen, he's no longer the future. Sam is the present".

At the end of the game, Sam faced the media.

"I grew up watching Messi play. He made me dream. Today, I played against him. Now I dream bigger. It's an honor to share the pitch with him, at this stage".

Messi, visibly emotional also faced the media.

"He's special. Nigeria has a star. Football is in good hands".

An ecstatic Eric Chelle faced the media at the end of the game.

"We are not just here to dance. We're here to conquer".