Divine intervention, a holy trinity of goals… on a night when a special saviour offered redemption and deliverance, it’s simply impossible not to reach for old religious language, because it’s now so easy to make the argument that Leo Messi is the greatest of all time.

That is still one of those eternal debates that will never be settled no matter how many times the few players in history at his level have done something like this, but there could be no debate about what happened in Quito, and what happened in this entire qualifying campaign for Argentina.

Messi dragged his team to the World Cup on his own, or at least as much as any individual ever can in a team game. He was this time really that deeply influential, that depended upon, as he hit the gold-standard achievement of a hat-trick of goals to bring Argentina from behind to beat Ecuador 3-1 and thereby from behind in the South American table to qualify directly.

In doing so, the great man did not just save his country. He also ensured that the national team’s wretched performances beyond his individual striving did not drag down his legacy, did not deny him a place on football’s greatest stage while still on his greatest level. Instead, their atrocious form only burnished that legacy, because he defied it. That form merely offered Messi another way to show his genius, using the multiple strands of that genius to live up to one of the various definitions of the word: to solve a complex puzzle, to get out of a hole.

Not even Diego Maradona had to do this, in a team under-performing like this. This was the Hand of God in a different way, and the way he did it was even more impressive than the bold bald fact that Messi scored a hat-trick to deliver his side to the World Cup.

There was first of all the problem that all of Argentina’s worst fears seemed to be coming through, because fear had so afflicted the rest of the players beyond Messi and Javier Mascherano. Ecuador took advantage of the paralysing anxiety that had so gripped the side through a year when no one other than Messi scored, when they had scored just one goal in four qualifiers just as it was all coming to head, as Romario Ibarra gave the home side the lead after just 40 seconds.

Disaster. Potential desolation. That anxiety became something else, something worse.

2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Show all 33 1 /33 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Who's qualified for the 2018 World Cup? HAMBURG, GERMANY - MAY 25: The FIFA World Cup is pictured at the city hall on May 25, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany. The FIFA World Cup will be presented to the public on May 26, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) Bongarts/Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group A: Russia Coach:Stanislav Cherchesov

Star player:Fyodor Smolov

World Cup best:First round 1994, 2002, 2014 (Soviet Union finished fourth in 1966)

Russia qualified automatically as hosts and will be desperate to improve their poor recent record at major tournaments. They have not won a match since Euro 2012 and, since the break up of the Soviet Union, have not progressed from the World Cup group stage. Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group A: Saudi Arabia Coach:Edgardo Bauza

Star player:Mohammad Al-Sahlawi

World Cup best:Second round 1994

After qualifying for four consecutive tournaments between 1994 and 2006, Saudi Arabia missed out in 2010 and 2014 but are back after finishing ahead of Australia in their qualifying group. AFP/Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group A: Saudi Arabia Coach:Hector Cuper

Star player:Mohamed Salah

World Cup best:First round 1934, 1990

Egypt will make only their third appearance at a World Cup finals and their first since 1990 after booking their place in Russia with victory over Congo. Runners-up to Cameroon in this year's African Nations Cup. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group A: Uruguay Coach:Oscar Tabarez

Star player:Luis Suarez

World Cup best:Winners 1930, 1950

Uruguay's last World Cup campaign was overshadowed by Suarez's bite on Giorgio Chiellini and expulsion from the tournament but they qualified impressively for Russia and possess undoubted firepower. 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group B: Portugal Coach:Fernando Santos

Star player:Cristiano Ronaldo

World Cup best:Third place 1966

Portugal enjoyed a real battle with Switzerland for automatic qualification but came out on top. Looking to continue their unbeaten run at tournaments after winning their first major title at Euro 2016. 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group B: Spain Coach:Julen Lopetegui

Star player:Isco

World Cup best:Winners 2010

The previously all-conquering Spanish suffered the ignominy of group stage exits at the 2014 World Cup and 2016 European Championship. The squad has seen evolution rather than revolution. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group B: Morocco Coach:Herve Renard

Star player:Medhi Benatia

World Cup best:Second round 1986

Well-travelled coach Renard will have relished beating his former employers Ivory Coast to top spot in a tough qualifying group. The North Africans are back at the finals for the first time since 1998. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group B: Iran Coach:Carlos Queiroz

Star player:Sardar Azmoun

World Cup best:First round 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014

This will be Iran's fourth appearance from the last six World Cup finals, but their only victory came against the USA in 1998. Won their final qualifying group ahead of South Korea. Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group C: France Coach:Didier Deschamps

Star player:Antoine Griezmann

World Cup best:Winners 1998

Knocked out in the quarter-finals in 2014, France have built a hugely impressive squad and will hope to make up for their near miss on home soil in Euro 2016, when they lost in the final to Portugal. 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group C: Australia Coach:N/A

Star player:Aaron Mooy

World Cup best:Second round 2006 Completing a quintet of qualifiers from the Asian groups, Australia conquered Honduras over two play-off legs. Were pointless at Brazil 2014 and long-serving talisman Tim Cahill is on the wane. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group C: Peru Coach:Ricardo Gareca

Star player:Jefferson Farfán

World Cup best:Quarter-finals 1970

Will be appearing at their first World Cup since 1982 after they beat New Zealand 2-0 on aggregate in the play-offs. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group C: Denmark Coach:Age Hareide

Star player:Christian Eriksen

World Cup best:Quarter-finals 1998

After missing out in 2014, Eriksen propelled Denmark back to the World Cup finals with a hat-trick in their play-off victory over the Republic of Ireland. The Danes failed to get out of their group on their last appearance in 2010. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group D: Argentina Coach:Jorge Sampaoli

Star player:Lionel Messi

World Cup best:Winners 1978, 1986

A nervy qualification campaign saw one of world football's great powers book their place at the last opportunity with victory over Ecuador but the losing finalists in 2014 will be looking to go one better. 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group D: Iceland Coach:Heimir Hallgrimsson

Star player:Gylfi Sigurdsson

World Cup best:Debut

The smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the World Cup finals, Iceland followed up their Euro 2016 heroics by topping a group featuring Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group D: Croatia Coach:Zlatko Dalic

Star player:Luka Modric

World Cup best:Third place 1998

Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic make for one of the best creative midfields in the tournament but they have failed to make it out of their group on their last three appearances since reaching the semi-finals at France 98. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group D: Nigeria Coach:Salisu Yusuf

Star player:Victor Moses

World Cup best:Second round 1994, 1998, 2014

A very impressive qualifying campaign booked Nigeria's place in Russia. The Super Eagles have only missed one of the last seven tournaments but 2014's victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina was their first since 1998. 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group E: Brazil Coach:Tite

Star player:Neymar

World Cup best:Winners 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

The five-time champions were the first team other than hosts Russia to qualify for the tournament after a very impressive campaign. Brazil have not made a World Cup final since their last title in 2002. Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group E: Switzerland Coach:Vladimir Petkovic

Star player:Xherdan Shaqiri

World Cup best:Quarter-finals 1934, 1938, 1954

Qualified for their fourth straight World Cup by beating Northern Ireland in a play-off via a controversial penalty. They have made it out of their group in two of the previous three and that will be the minimum aim this time around. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group E: Costa Rica Coach:Oscar Ramirez

Star player:Keylor Navas

World Cup best:Quarter-finals 2014

Finished second in CONCACAF qualifying, with the highlight being a 4-0 victory over the United States. Will be hard pushed to match their 2014 performance, when they beat Italy, Uruguay and Greece before losing to Holland on penalties. 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group E: Serbia Coach:Mladen Krstajic (caretaker)

Star player:Nemanja Matic

World Cup best:First round 2010 (Yugoslavia finished fourth in 1930 and 1962, Serbia and Montenegro reached the second round in 1998)

Qualifying for a first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup was not enough to save manager Slavoljub Muslin from the sack. Finished top of a group featuring the Republic of Ireland and Wales. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group F: Germany Coach:Joachim Low

Star player:Toni Kroos

World Cup best:Winners 2014 (West Germany were champions in 1954, 1974 and 1990)

The reigning champions qualified in style, winning all 10 of their games, scoring 43 goals and conceding only four. Their golden generation is ageing but remains a force and has been enhanced by young blood. Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group F: Mexico Coach:Juan Carlos Osorio

Star player:Javier Hernandez

World Cup best:Quarter-finals 1970, 1986

Mexico are traditionally the strongest team in the CONCACAF region and again qualified comfortably. They have reached the second round at the last six tournaments without once going further. AFP/Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group F: Sweden Coach:Janne Andersson

Star player:Andreas Granqvist

World Cup best:Runners-up 1958

They may be missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic but Sweden qualified for their first World Cup since 2006 with a play-off win over four-time champions Italy. They also finished above Holland in a tough qualifying group which was headed by France. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group F: South Korea Coach:Shin Tae-yong

Star player:Son Heung-min

World Cup best:Fourth place 2002

South Korea qualified for their ninth consecutive World Cup finals despite an indifferent campaign. They have only won two matches since finishing fourth as co-hosts in 2002. Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group G: Belgium Coach:Roberto Martinez

Star player:Kevin De Bruyne

World Cup best:Fourth place 1986

Unbeaten in qualifying, Belgium's hugely talented squad will be hoping to build on their quarter-final appearance four years ago having reached the same stage at Euro 2016. AFP/Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group G: Panama Coach:Hernan Dario Gomez

Star player:Gabriel Torres

World Cup best:Debut

Panama have been edging closer to reaching the World Cup finals for the first time in recent tournaments and crossed the line this time thanks to a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Costa Rica in their final qualifier. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group G: Tunisia Coach:Nabil Maaloul

Star player:Wahbi Khazi

World Cup best:Group stage 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006

After appearing at three consecutive finals without winning a single group game, Tunisia missed the last two editions. Unbeaten in qualifying, they defeated DR Congo to Russia by a point, with a last-round draw against Libya proving enough for a squad compromised largely of Tunisia-based players. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group G: England Coach:Gareth Southgate

Star player:Harry Kane

World Cup best:Winners 1966

A comfortable qualification campaign did nothing to boost optimism for England's chances in Russia. A first major tournament in charge for Southgate, with the Three Lions having failed to reach the quarter-finals at the last two World Cups. AFP/Getty Images 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group H: Poland Coach:Adam Nawalka

Star player:Robert Lewandowski

World Cup best:Third place 1974, 1982

Poland are back at the World Cup finals for the first time since 2006 after comfortably topping their qualifying group. The last time they progressed beyond the group stages was 1986. 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group H: Senegal Coach:Aliou Cisse

Star player:Sadio Mane

World Cup best:Quarter-final 2002

The surprise package at the 2002 World Cup - they memorably beat hosts France - Senegal missed three editions of the tournament before securing their return by beating South Africa in a replayed group match. The original result was annulled after referee Joseph Lamptey was expelled by FIFA. Getty 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group H: Colombia Coach:Jose Pekerman

Star player:Radamel Falcao

World Cup best:Quarter-finals 2014

Colombia's star has waned a little since their brilliant showing in 2014, when they reached the last eight and were narrowly and controversially beaten by Brazil. Finished fourth in South American qualifying. 2018 World Cup group-by-group guide Group H: Japan Coach:Vahid Halilhodzic

Star player:Shinji Kagawa

World Cup best:Second round 2002, 2010

Will be appearing at their sixth consecutive World Cup finals after winning their qualification group. Did not win any of their three group games at the 2014 tournament. Getty Images

There was panic throughout the Argentina team, except Messi. He instead had the calmness to finish with the outside of his foot after just 11 minutes following a deliciously simple one-two with Angel Di Maria to make it 1-1.

That moment was all the more symbolic and significant because it was finally a move when one of Argentina’s previously misfiring attackers had decided to return one of Messi’s passes to him, when they followed his presence of mind. That was something that wasn’t happening in previous, and Di Maria deserves credit there.

There was also something else happening. After so many games when it looked like Messi was trying to be too responsible in the use of his quality, too constrained, too much of a team player only to see that team misfire, it was as if he just decided to distill all that abundant talent and make it happen himself. He drove forward and hammered the ball into the roof of the net. In doing so, he also replicated another Argentine legend other than Maradona, and showed another ability. This was a finish reminiscent of Gabriel Batistuta.

To think some people previously blamed Messi.

At 2-1, it was still wasn’t over, because Argentina weren’t over their nerves. They were still ceding ground, still failing to keep the ball, still struggling to keep their heads.

Ecuador were still looking dangerous.

So, just when it looked like they were on the brink of a costly equaliser, Messi pushed himself past the limits again. He produced again, and this clinching crowning goal appropriately the finest of the lot.

On the hour, Messi surged forward and jinked to the left, before showing a higher level of vision to go with such victorious talent by spotting goalkeeper Maximo Banguera off his line and so distinctively lifting it over him. It was a truly original type of finish, from the sort of player that can just innovate like that.

Messi can also influence like that.

His country are in the World Cup because of him, and no player has ever been able to say that with such authority, with such genuine truth.

Over the last year, he was apparently the only player who could even score a goal for Argentina, and here the only player who was ever going to save them.

The wonder now is also whether he will save them and influence them in a different way.

There was clearly something more going on with this star-studded Argentina side than a lack of talent or form. It was as if the deflating effect of three successive major final defeats had led to a depression surrounding the team, that deepened into the mental block that seemed to afflict them in front of goal.

Something was broken, and it was as if they had even brought in the supposed managerial saviour in Jorge Sampaoli too late.

The saviour was already there in Messi and, having rescued them from what have been the final looming humiliation of failing to qualify, the tantalising proposition is that he will now release them; that they will have the calmer mindset to work with Sampaoli’s clearly effective successful system.

Such dynamics have been seen before in international football on qualification, not least from this country in 1985.

The best, impressively, may yet be to come.