Lionel Messi produced a moment of trademark magic to help keep Argentina's World Cup hopes alive.
After losing to Saudi Arabia in their opening game, Argentina knew defeat would end their hopes of reaching the last 16.
The tension was mounting as Mexico frustrated Messi in an attritional game, especially in a first half littered with fouls and stops that never allowed Argentina to gain any traction.
After 64 minutes, Messi changed all that when he took one touch to control a pass with his left foot before drilling an unerring finish past the Mexico keeper into the bottom corner.
Argentina's World Cup campaign got back on track as their fans in a crowd of 88,966 erupted in joy.
It was Messi who made the breakthrough and the difference after the second goal was scored, but it was the other way around.
They will get into the knockout phase if they beat Poland in the final game of the group.
This crucial game descended into a bitty affair spoiled by fouls, with little quality on show, as Messi cut a frustrated figure for the first 45 minutes here.
After the game was over, Messi was finally able to exert his influence, wandering far and wide on the vast expanse of Lusail Stadium before finally making the decisive contribution.
In an ear-splitting atmosphere, Messi turned up the volume even more with that breakthrough goal that finally broke Mexico down.
Messi produced two perfect touches with that wand of a left foot, one to control and one to arrow a finish beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
When Argentina needed him the most, the 35-year-old produced when they wanted him the most.
The highly-touted side was in real danger. Argentina knew they would be finished here in the Middle East. Messi's dream of lifting the World Cup would be over if he lost.
He is determined not to be outshone by the other members of his elite group, like he did when he scored two goals against the Danes.
Mexico, backed by their own massed ranks of fans, were in no mood to step aside and it took that big moment to unlocked them.
There is still work to do for Argentina when they face Group C leaders Poland, who boast a sporting icon of their own in Robert Lewandowski, but the celebrations at the final whistle gave the impression that a team that has been tipped to win the World Cup at this same Lusail Stadium believe their
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