Image source, Getty Images

16 June: Argentina 2-1 Bosnia-Hercegovina: Lionel Messi scored one and set up the other as Argentina began their Group F campaign with an edgy win. Messi's free-kick was put into his own net by Bosnia defender Sead Kolasinac, before the Barcelona star jinked past two defenders and rifled in to make it 2-0. Vedad Ibisevic slotted in late on, but Argentina held on.

22 June: Argentina 1-0 Iran: Messi took centre stage again, curling a stunning 91st-minute winner to send Argentina through to the knockout stage and rob the excellent Iran of a deserved point.

25 June: Nigeria 2-3 Argentina: Argentina finished top of Group F after two goals from - yep, you've guessed it - Lionel Messi helped them overcome the African side. Marcos Rojo scored the winner, wiping out Ahmed Musa's brace.

Michael Blyth:, external Diego Maradona was good in an amateur age, Lionel Messi is good in a professional age. Maradona is like watching the best kid in an U11s game.

John McEnerney:, external Argentina have been slowly improving and like an asado, external it takes time! The time is right and they'll click today. The big worry is the back four, but they should win.

BBC sports presenter Olly Foster:, external "Neymar broken, Rodriguez beaten. Don't worry, the World Cup has a decent number 10 still standing.

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Just as Lionel Messi has been at the heart of everything good Argentina have done at this World Cup, so has Neymar for Brazil.

The hosts are through to the semi-finals but if they are to win the tournament they will now have to do it without their mercurial striker who, as Ben mentioned in the entry below, is out of the tournament after he broke a bone in his back in yesterday's 2-1 quarter-final win against Colombia.

Have a read of our chief football writer Phil McNulty's thoughts on the injury and the impact it will have on Brazil here.

Ben Smith in Brasilia
BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

"Welcome to Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, where it is a really glorious morning. Brazil is waking up to the news that Neymar is out of the World Cup and residents of the capital city are also discovering their city has been invaded by Argentines. Tens of thousands of fans decked out in blue and white are swarming around this magnificent stadium and the Argentina team coach is just about to arrive."

Image source, @BelRedDevils

Belgium national team on Twitter:, external "Our dressing room. Everything is set for the boys to arrive!"

Image source, Getty Images

It is an iconic photo that appears to show Diego Maradona at his frightening best. The mercurial number 10 has the ball in a 1982 World Cup group stage match and six Belgium players look set to swarm the Argentina star.

All, though, is not as it appears to be. Maradona, as fearful a prospect as he was to face, was not being man-marked by a huddle of players. He had just received the ball from a free-kick and the Belgian players were in fact breaking from the wall they had created. Maradona's subsequent pass was comfortably cleared and Argentina lost 1-0, with Maradona having a rare off day.

"Ultimately it's not about the composition; it's not about art; it's not about that particular game; it transcends that," the photographer of that picture, Steve Powell, told the Guardian., external "It's about communication. It communicates the power of Maradona and the fear he instilled. It's about this one man and the relationship he had with opposing players."

Image source, Getty Images

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots can remember the day Diego Maradona sank Belgium well, yesterday calling him "the player that struck us down and gave us bad memories".

However, he says his current crop of Belgium players have a very different mindset to those in the side which faced Maradona back in 1986.

That time, they were delighted to have progressed all the way to the last four, and Wilmot says: "You should only think of one thing: make the final. That Belgium didn't have that frame of mind back then is not my problem."

We already know the line-up for one of the semi-finals after wins for Germany and Brazil against France and Colombia respectively on Friday.

Those two sides will play each other on Tuesday, with the second semi-final taking place the day after. That game will see one of Argentina or Belgium take on the winner of Netherlands v Costa Rica, with that quarter-final tie taking place at 21:00 BST today.

Watch the highlights and read the reports from yesterday's quarter-final games on our World Cup page.

It is perhaps an unfortunate coincidence for Belgium that they come up against Argentina.

This is their best performance at a World Cup since that stunning run to the semi-finals in 1986, where only the individual brilliance of Diego Maradona prevented them from going further. Now they are up against the same nation, with a player of similar individual quality.

Them's the breaks...

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We've got loads of time before kick-off so I think this is as good a time as any to start populating this page with your thoughts on all things World Cup-related.

Is Lionel Messi already on a par with Diego Maradona? Is he better even, or does he have to win a World Cup before he can he elevated to such a level? Who would you rather have in your team? Messi or Maradona? Finally, Argentina or Belgium - who will win and why?

I'm sure you know the drill by now but send us your views via the usual methods - tweet us using #bbcworldcup,, external text on 81111 (UK only) or, if you feel you need to get more off your chest than the humble text or tweet allows, pop a message on our BBC Sport Facebook, external and Google+, external pages.

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Ariel Ortega, Marcelo Gallardo, Pablo Aimar. Three Argentine players who wilted under the hefty - and rather unfair - tag of being 'the new Maradona'.

But, ever since he burst onto the Barcelona scene as a prodigious teenager, it is a comparison which Lionel Messi has thrived on.

Former England striker Gary Lineker says the world has not "seen anyone like Messi" since Maradona, who himself famously crowned his countryman as the "new Maradona".

"They are very similar players in many ways. Both have a mercurial left foot, balance, precision, can beat players with ease and make the game look very simple," says Lineker. "But Messi scores goals as well. While Maradona was unbelievably creative, he wasn't as prolific as Messi."

Image source, Getty Images

Hello! Welcome to our coverage of the penultimate quarter-final match of this exhilarating World Cup as Argentina take on Belgium for a place in the last four.

Among the many, many positive things this World Cup will be remembered for will be the fact Lionel Messi has finally made his mark at international level.

The 27-year-old has scored four goals in four matches, scooping up four man-of-the-match awards in the process. Will he be needing to make space for another of those little trophies on his mantelpiece later today?

"Maradona. Going at them again… brilliant run by Maradona! Fantastic goal! Unbelievable! World class!"

Image source, Getty Images

Not for the first time at the 1986 World Cup, John Motson's commentary was full of superlatives as he described Diego Maradona's brilliance in scoring a stunning solo goal as Argentina beat Belgium 2-0 in the semi-final.

Fast forward 28 years and once again Argentina face Belgium at the knockout stage of a World Cup. The name of the opposition is the same, but Argentina are led by another magician.

Image source, Getty Images

Can Lionel Messi work his magic once again and send his side into the semi-finals?

Argentina left-back Marcos Rojo serves a one-game ban, with Jose Basanta expected to deputise for him.

Sergio Aguero has returned to light training following a thigh problem but is unlikely to start, while Rodrigo Palacio could replace Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Belgium welcome back midfielder Steven Defour, who has completed a one-game suspension following his red card against South Korea.

Thomas Vermaelen should be available after a hamstring problem.