'Messiah' Messi puts Argentina at ease

Nation breathes collective sigh of relief as superstar seals Cup spot

BUENOS AIRES - An entire nation exploded with relief on Tuesday as Lionel Messi blasted Argentina into next year's World Cup finals with a spellbinding hat-trick in Quito.

"Messi is E.T. He's from another planet. He's not from this world," Marco Mouras, a 28-year-old Brazilian said in a crowded Buenos Aires bar as Argentines around him went wild, beer and pizza spilling onto the floor.