Former Southampton midfielder Matt Le Tissier on Twitter:, external Looking forward to the Argentina v Bosnia game to see the man I've backed as tournament top scorer, no not Messi, Sergio Aguero.

In what may be the fastest ever denial of a story, Napoli have just tweeted that rumours linking Gonzalo Higuain to Barcelona "are entirely unfounded."

Entry to entry speculation there. It's like deadline day come early...

Thirty-five minutes from kick-off. Gonzalo Higuain is not fit enough to start for Argentina tonight but a story is circulating in Spain that the Napoli striker is on the verge of signing for Barcelona.

The Catalans have reportedly agreed terms with the striker and are currently bidding to finalise an agreement with Napoli, who signed the forward for €40 million from Barcelona's arch-rivals, Real Madrid, just last summer.

Interesting. Very interesting...

Chris Waddle
BBC Sport

"Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella, who was a great player himself, believes the way to get the best from his team is to attack. It will be a great game because both Bosnia and Argentina will go for it."

Lionel Messi has been bossing the football world for the best part of a decade but he's still only 26! It's eight years since his solitary World Cup goal though - the sixth in a 6-1 win against Serbia.

Gary Lineker
BBC Sport

Image source, @Garylineker

"Messi and Maradona on Copacabana beach!"

Raj: Is there a man under more pressure to perform than Lionel Messi? I think he is under even more pressure than Neymar. I hope he delivers.

Tim Vickery
South American football expert on BBC Radio 5 live

"New setting. newly built Maracana. Old style atmosphere. There is magic here. This is the Argentina fans setting the tone with some fantastic singing as they call their team out on to the pitch.

"Tonight, we might have a fantastic spectacle from the fans, and equally fantastic spectacle in the quality of football on the pitch. How lucky we are tonight."

Image source, Getty Images

Lionel Messi had failed to score in 16 competitive games for Argentina prior to being given the captaincy, but since taking the armband he has netted 10 times in 14 competitive matches.

On song, on form and in Rio...

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport

Image source, ChrisBevan_bbc

"Argentina in town today, literally. Reckon about half the population is in Rio."

Messi or Maradona?

The two Argentine number 10s have been compared ever since a young Leo burst onto the scene for Barcelona in 2004.

Who is better? It's impossible to say. But Diego took his team almost single-handedly to World Cup glory in 1986 and that is the task facing Messi tonight.

Can he do it? Text your views to 81111 (UK Only) or tweet us at #bbcworldcup., external

Juliette Ferrington
BBC Sport

Image source, @juliette_grace

"Bumped into this lot en route to Estadio Maracana."

Mark Lawrenson
BBC Sport

"I am really excited about this match. Alejandro Sabella, the Argentina manager, has found a place for Lionel Messi to get the best out of him and he can't stop scoring. It wouldn't be a good World Cup without a good Messi performance."

Weather report from John Hammond, BBC Weather: "A chance of seeing a thundery shower during the match but it should be largely dry with temperatures falling a little to around 22C with 65% humidity."

Former England footballer Rio Ferdinand at the Maracana

"It's unbelievable. The Argentine fans were in sing-song mode a couple of hours before the game. It reminds me of France 98 when I went out on to the pitch before the game and behind the goal was full of Argentine fans chanting "Argentina". You think to yourself 'they are here to support their team properly, I hope our fans are going to get behind us like that'.

"One of the best players, if not the best, in the world, Lionel Messi, in the Maracana where John Barnes scored that amazing goal for England when I was a kid. You can smell that the likes of Pele and Zico have been here. We are lucky to be here.

"Bosnia Hercegovina have to go for Argentina's weakness which is their defence and striker Edin Dezko is the man to score for them if they can supply him with the chances."

Dosti:, external Immortality awaits Lionel Messi. Will he do what legends have done and own the whole tournament?

He's one of the two best players of his generation. He will go down in history, that much is in the bag.

But he needs to deliver in a World Cup to get right up there with Pele and Diego Maradona.

Is this his time?

Image source, Getty Images

Three Champions League wins.

Six La Liga titles.

An Olympic gold medal.

Image source, Getty Images

Four Ballon d'Or awards.

Image source, Getty Images

243 goals in 277 league games for Barcelona.

67 Champions League goals.

ONE WORLD CUP GOAL in eight appearances.

Image source, Getty Images

Lionel Messi's miraculous career has one huge hole in the middle of it. He's never produced the goods at a World Cup finals.

Is this the time for him to make the magic happen?

And Aguero and Zabaleta will be up against a familiar face in City team-mate Edin Dzeko, who starts up front for Bosnia. Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic also starts, while Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic will aim to pull the strings from midfield.

Bosnia starting XI: Begovic, Bicakcic, Spahic, Kolasinac, Besic, Pjanic, Misimovic, Dzeko, Mujdza, Lulic, Hajrovic .

Napoli striker Higuain does not start for Argentina, who are skippered by Lionel Messi. Manchester City pair Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta are both named in coach Alex Sabella's starting XI.

Argentina starting XI: Romero, Garay, Campagnaro, Zabaleta, Di Maria, Messi, Rodriguez, Mascherano, Rojo, F. Fernandez, Aguero.