On 23 August 2008, Lionel Messi won Olympic football gold as Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 in Beijing. The final, played before 89,102 fans at the Workers' Stadium, gave the 21-year-old his first global title with the national team.
A pass that decided gold
The match was locked deep into the second half under brutal conditions. Temperatures reached 42 degrees Celsius and extreme humidity drained the players. Midway through the period, Messi dropped into space and threaded a pass through the Nigerian defence.
Ángel Di María ran onto the ball and lifted a chip over the onrushing goalkeeper. The moment settled the final and secured the gold medal. "Winning the gold medal was a dream of mine – and now it's come true," Messi told reporters afterwards. "I'm so happy."
History made in punishing heat
Argentina became the first team to win back-to-back Olympic titles since Uruguay in 1964 and 1968. The squad also set a competition record with 12 consecutive unbeaten matches. The victory avenged a loss to Nigeria in the 1996 final.
The gold capped a commanding tournament run. Argentina beat Brazil 3-0 in the semi-final, their strongest display of the Games. Goalkeeper Sergio Romero did not concede a goal across 315 minutes of knockout play.
It was Argentina's third major youth title in three years, after U-20 World Cup wins in 2005 and 2007. Most of the squad would later reach the 2014 World Cup final together.
A single, precise pass on a scorching afternoon handed Messi the first collective trophy of a career still unfolding.
