<p>Argentina's World Cup quarterfinal against Belgium on Saturday is likely to be decided by who comes out on top in a continuing duel between their captain Lionel Messi and opposing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Barcelona forward Messi, whose four goals and one assist have propelled the South Americans into the last eight, has faced Courtois 10 times in three seasons since the lanky 22-year-old joined Atletico Madrid on loan from Chelsea in 2011.<br /><br />Messi came out firmly on top in his early encounters with Courtois in Spain, netting six goals in their opening three games including a brilliant hat-trick in the first meeting, a La Liga match in September 2011 that Barca won 5-0.<br /><br />Messi made Courtois look foolish for, a crafty free kick in a 2-1 La Liga victory for Barca at Atletico's Calderon stadium in February 2012.<br /><br />Courtois must have been wondering what had hit him when Messi struck a brilliant double in a 4-1 home win for Barca in December 2012 but that was the last time the mercurial Argentine forward found the net against the Madrid club.<br /><br />Whether Messi can help them beat the Belgians, who lost 2-0 to Argentina in the 1986 semifinals with Maradona netting both goals, will depend on him breaking his unusual scoring drought against one of the most promising young keepers in the game.<br /></p>
<p>Argentina's World Cup quarterfinal against Belgium on Saturday is likely to be decided by who comes out on top in a continuing duel between their captain Lionel Messi and opposing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Barcelona forward Messi, whose four goals and one assist have propelled the South Americans into the last eight, has faced Courtois 10 times in three seasons since the lanky 22-year-old joined Atletico Madrid on loan from Chelsea in 2011.<br /><br />Messi came out firmly on top in his early encounters with Courtois in Spain, netting six goals in their opening three games including a brilliant hat-trick in the first meeting, a La Liga match in September 2011 that Barca won 5-0.<br /><br />Messi made Courtois look foolish for, a crafty free kick in a 2-1 La Liga victory for Barca at Atletico's Calderon stadium in February 2012.<br /><br />Courtois must have been wondering what had hit him when Messi struck a brilliant double in a 4-1 home win for Barca in December 2012 but that was the last time the mercurial Argentine forward found the net against the Madrid club.<br /><br />Whether Messi can help them beat the Belgians, who lost 2-0 to Argentina in the 1986 semifinals with Maradona netting both goals, will depend on him breaking his unusual scoring drought against one of the most promising young keepers in the game.<br /></p>