Nigeria's World Cup rivals Argentina have celebrated Barcelona's exit from the Champions League, with their captain and key player Lionel Messi playing three games less before the end of the season.

After losing the first leg 4-1 at the Camp Nou last week, Roma completed a miraculous comeback no one saw coming, thrashing the Blaugrana 3-0 in the Stadio Olimpico to go through on the away goals rule.

Assuming Barcelona had qualified for the final, the earliest date Messi would have joined his international teammates ahead of the 2018 World Cup is May 27, a day after the Champions League showpiece in Kiev.

''The elimination of Barcelona meant good news for these lands. Because looking at the glass half full, Leo Messi will arrive with three matches less to the World Cup in Russia,'' Argentina's number one sports newspaper Ole wrote.

''A little less busy than expected, with Barca already ruled out of the Champions League final (May 26 in Kiev). And of course, he will not play the semifinals either. Thus, the Flea will have fewer encounters on the back.''

Nigeria and Argentina will do battle for the fifth time in the group stage of the World Cup at Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg on June 26.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : asroma.com