GENEVA — Lionel Messi converted a 90th-minute penalty kick to give Argentina a 2-1 win over Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday night in the first national team meeting between soccer's most heralded goal-scorers.
Argentina went ahead in the 14th minute when Angel Di Maria scored off a pass from Messi, the two-time FIFA player of the year.
Ronaldo, the 2008 FIFA player of the year, tied it in the 21st minute with his 26th goal in 80 international appearances and first in seven head-to-head matches against Messi for club and country.
Argentina substitute Javier Pastore struck the crossbar with an 86th-minute header off a cross from Messi.
Messi's penalty kick was his 16th goal in 54 international appearances and third in seven games against Ronaldo. It was the second straight time Argentina won on a late goal by Messi, who scored in injury time for a 1-0 victory over Brazil in November.