Di Maria strike gives Argentina gold

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Lionel Messi, the 21-year-old Barcelona player whose participation in the tournament was threatened after his club won a legal battle with FIFA, proved the pivotal influence laying on a goal for Angel di Maria and regularly tormenting the Nigerian defence.

Victory meant Argentina had buried the ghost of 1996, when they lost 3-2 to a Kanu inspired Nigerian side, and became the fourth country to defend their Olympic crown after Great Britain (1908, 1912), Uruguay (1924, 1928) and Hungary (1964, 1968).

It also meant two Olympic gold medals for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano, the only survivor from Argentina's side in 2004.

Unlike 1996, this final was no classic though matters improved after a cagey first half.

Nigeria's Lokomotiv Moscow forward Peter Odemwingie had the first effort at goal, a tame long-range free-kick before Juan Roman Riquelme had a fairly woeful effort from his own free-kick in a much more promising position.

Messi kept threatening but Nigeria were snapping into the tackles, though African hearts were in mouths when the Barcelona forward threw himself over the foot of Chibuzor Okonkwo in the area, but referee Viktor Kassai of Hungary was not impressed.

The closest to a goal in the first half came right at the end when di Maria unleashed a vicious strike that Nigerian keeper Ambruse Vanzekin did well to turn aside.

Messi was irrepressible and played a key role in Argentina's goal. It was his quick feet that gave him space to roll a perfect pass into the path of di Maria and the Benfica midfielder showed a clean pair of heels to the Nigerian defence before producing a clinical finish.

Everton striker Victor Anichebe came within millimetres of an equaliser - he got a great touch to divert a cross inside the near-post but Argentina keeper Sergio Romero just got a hand to it, and then managed to stop it rolling over the line to ensure the South Americans took the gold.