Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli has attempted to patch up his relationship with Lionel Messi, thanking the captain and matchwinner for hugging him after the side squeaked into the World Cup's last 16.

After a deeply difficult week in which Argentina's players had wrested control of the team, restored the formation Sampaoli had ripped up and staged their own team-talk in the tunnel after he had left for the bench, the coach made a glowing tribute to Messi .

'You know when Leo came and hugged me, I felt very proud and happy because he knows I am passionate, very passionate every single day,' Sampaoli said.

Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli has attempted to patch up his relationship with Lionel Messi

Sampaoli has endured a difficult week in which his players wrested control of the team

'I've had the chance to travel with him , share many moments with him. He knows we had this common dream in coming to Russia.

'The most important thing about Leo is his human side. He is a person who laughs, who cries, who suffers when Argentina wins.

'I've seen him happy and sad in crisis times like today. People say he doesn't enjoy playing for Argentina but i don't agree.

'He loves paying for Argentina and that makes him even bigger.'

The Argentine watched on as his side defeated Nigeria with a last gasp winner to progress

Messi finally revealed glimpses of his best at this tournament, scoring a sublime opening goal.

Despite being named man of the match, though, he could not maintain his early influence and an Nigeria equaliser seemed to have had sent the Argentines out of the tournament until Marcos Rojo's late equaliser.