Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi's team-mate for Argentina and FC Barcelona, hailed the man who bagged a hat-trick to send the country to the 2018 World Cup.

"Lionel Messi owns this game and when you own the game you have ability to make things happen. I hope we can help him in Russia. We enjoyed him and now we have to help him.

"We have the chance to dream. It's a World Cup and we can remember how we played in Brazil. We have to prepare in these seven or eight months to arrive in the best form possible, and we'll try to do it."

FUTURE

Mascherano: "For a lot of people the story could have finished today, but thanks to god it was not like this. If I get to Russia, that will be the end. I know that for sure."

Todos Juntos hasta el Final !!!! pic.twitter.com/t7EqS9MrC2 — Javier Mascherano (@Mascherano) 11 de octubre de 2017