After his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s heroics the night before, the pressure was on Lionel Messi to deliver.
But the Argentina superstar, entrusted with the task of leading his nation to success in what is likely to be his last World Cup, ultimately fell flat.
Ronaldo had laid down the gauntlet to Messi with his stunning hat-trick in Portugal’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Spain in their World Cup opener.
But Barcelona star and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was unable to inspire his side in the way Ronaldo did, missing a penalty and failing to find a way past Iceland’s heroic battlers.
Icleand, who humiliated England by knocking them out of Euro 2016, were at their collective and belligerent best here, putting their bodies on the line as Argentina threw everything at them, only to come up short.
Messi – his penalty miss aside – did not play particularly badly, but met an immovable object in the stubborn shape of Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side, who proved here their Euro 2016 exploits were no fluke.
Iceland, ranked 22nd in the world and making their World Cup debut, may not be a side for the football purists, with their rudimentary approach, but their formidable work ethic and collective spirit saw them earn a deserved draw.
After an anxious opening for two-time winners Argentina, Jorge Sampaoli’s side settled down and began to play with fluency and purpose, with Iceland made to chase the ball.
Messi probed in a bid to find a way through the Icelandic block in front of him, but it was Sergio Aguero who made the breakthrough in the 20th minute with his first World Cup goal.
There seemed little danger when Aguero picked the ball up with his back to goal, but the Manchester City striker, as so many Premier League defenders will testify, is capable of conjuring something from nothing.
Aguero performed a lighting quick turn, leaving Ragnar Sigurdsson trailing in his wake, and unleashed an unstoppable strike that flashed past Iceland keeper Hannes Halldorsson and into the net.
It was a deserved lead for one of the tournament favourites, but one that asted just four minutes, Argentina’s uncertainty at the back undermining Aguero’s brilliance and gifting their opponents an equaliser.
Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson drilled a ball into the six-yard box, which Willy Caballero was only able to palm into the path of the grateful Alfred Finnbogason, who reacted quickest to steer it into the net to level.
With Caballero anxious throughout, Argentina always looked vulnerable at the back, with Gylfi Sigurdsson twice going close before the break, with Sampaoli’s side lucky to go in at 1-1.
Argentina dominated after the break and should have gone ahead in the 64th minute when they won a penalty after Maxi Meza went down in the box following a shove from behind.
Messi stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick but saw his poor effort saved by Halldorsson. Messi failed with a dipping free-kick and struggled to make his influence count thereafter, as Iceland.
Argentina became increasingly desperate as the clock ticked down, substitute Cristian Pavon enraging Polish ref Szymon Marciniak for appealing for a penalty that was blatantly not justified.
Messi did his best to drag his country to victory, playing with greater enterprise and purpose as the game ebbed away, but even he was unable to find a way to breach Iceland’s stubborn resistance.
The 30-year-old went close with a curling effort that flew inches wide with nine minutes left, the miss summing up his frustrating afternoon.
Iceland were indebted to spot-kick hero Halldorsson late on, when he dived at full-stretch to his left to keep out a goal-bound shot from Pavon, clipped on its way by Aguero, while Messi shot wide in added time.
A nation of just 335,00 inhabitants, having stunned England at Euro 2016 and swept aside Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey on the road to Russia, did it again, this time against arguably the greatest player of all time.
Argentina: Caballero 5, Salvio 6, Otamendi 6, Rojo 6, Tagliafico 6, Mascherano 7, Biglia 6 (Banega 53, 6), Meza 6 (Higuain 84, 5), Messi 7, Di Maria 5 (Pavon 75, 6), Aguero 7
Iceland: Halldorsson 8 MOTM, Magnusson 7, R Sigurdsson 7, Arnason 7, Saevarsson 7, Hallfredsson 7, Gunnarsson 7 (Skulason 76, 5), Bjarnason 7, G Sigurdsson 7, Gudmundsson 6 (Gislason 63, 6), Finnbogasan 7 (Sigurdarson 89)
Man of the match: Halldorsson 8
Lionel Messi suffered a nightmare start to the World Cup as Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw by Argentina in their Group D opener.
The Barcelona legend saw his second-half penalty saved by the impressive Hannes Por Halldorsson on an afternoon where he struggled to stamp his authority on proceedings.
Sergio Aguero finally netted his first World Cup goal at his third finals early in the piece, turning to emphatically strike home.
But Argentina looked shaky at the back throughout and were punished when Willy Caballero failed to deal with a ball back across and Alfred Finnbogason struck home.
Full-time: Argentina 1-1 Iceland
One last chance for Lionel Messi with a 95th-minute free-kick but he clatters it against a solid Iceland wall.
It wasn’t his day, and the Vikings took full advantage.
Iceland have hope ahead of their Nigeria and Croatia games.
The Icelanders are clinging on here.
Lionel Messi skies one following an impeccable save by Hannes Halldorsson.
You sense there are a fair few new Iceland fans on sofas around the world.
Referee Szymon Marciniak and his video assistants took centre stage this afternoon until all the Messi mayhem.
The Argentinians will only have themselves to blame if they fail to find a winner.
Their passing has been no match for Iceland’s passion.
Draw beckons
Less than ten minutes left in Moscow...
Argentina are creating the majority of the chances but lack edge as Gonzalo Higuain enters the fray.
Croatia and Nigeria will be watching with interest: Group D is looking like a potential Group of Death.
Another pen?
Cristian Pavon replaced the quiet Angel Di Maria and is involved immediately.
The substitute is clattered in the area but the ref controversially calls it a dive.
They VAR when they want...
To be fair to Lionel Messi, that was the first penalty he has let slip for his national side.
That won’t stop the Cristiano Ronaldo camp from gloating, though, and he has missed four of his last seven overall.
You’d back him to score a screamer from here.
PENALTY! Messi misses!
Wow.
All eyes were on Lionel Messi this morning after Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick against Spain.
This was his chance to lead the Argentina charge but he scuffs the spot-kick and Hannes Halldorsson saves!
A poor penalty and, surely, the best moment in Halldorsson’s life.
Penalty to Argentina!
Lionel Messi floats the ball into Sergio Aguero who goes down in the area.
The collision, a challenge from Hordur Magnusson, looked quite weak but the referee was decisive.
Will Jorge Sampaoli’s side restore their lead?
Ever Banega has come on for Lucas Biglia in midfield.
The Sevilla man is sitting pretty deep, propping up the tiki-taka.
Argentina’s passing has notably improved since the substitution.
We’re back under way at the Otkritie Arena, an open stadium for an open match.
The ‘Sons are getting up close and personal with their Latin American counterparts.
God knows what the spectating Diego Maradona makes of the action.
More goals on the cards
With the talent in Argentina’s frontline and their defence looking shaky - more goals seem to be on the cards.
And Betfair have priced up over 4.5 goals in the game at 5/2.
Half-time: Argentina 1-1 Iceland
Iceland will be thrilled with their first 45 minutes at a World Cup tournament.
Their old-school transitions have so far proved effective against the artistry of the Argentinians.
Can they keep Lionel Messi at bay for another three quarters of an hour?
Chance!
A wonderful opportunity for Gylfi Sigurdsson with the Argentina defence scrambled!
Willy Caballero deflects the shot with a big left hand and a heart in his mouth.
Marcos Rojo is looking something of a liability for the Group D favourites.
VAR-gentina
Argentina have appealed for two potential penalties.
The first was simple enough for the referee to rule out after Lucas Biglia flung himself onto the ground.
The second involved a handball but video ruled it wasn’t deliberate.
Talking of firsts, Alfred Finnbogason’s finesse finish was Iceland’s first goal in a World Cup finals.
It came just four minutes and 15 seconds after Argentina opened the scoring.
Everyone’s favourite underdogs deserve huge credit for bouncing back so swiftly.
Sergio Aguero is competing at his third World Cup and is finally on the scoresheet.
All he needed was a yard to turn and the rest was elementary.
Argentina will need more from their star man after conceding, however.
GOAL! Iceland bounce back!
Alfred Finnbogason with a goal against the run of play!
A lovely ball from midfield put the South Americans under pressure.
Willy Caballero could only paw it away and the FC Augsburg striker was there to capitalise.
Shot!
Lionel Messi had his first sighter of the afternoon shortly before the opening goal.
The Argentina legend has been at the centre of some neat build-up play alongside Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero.
That was relatively straightforward for Hannes Halldorsson though.
GOAL! Breakthrough for Aguerooo!
The Man City forward finds his first-ever World Cup goal inside 20 minutes in Moscow!
It was a brilliant finish into the top right corner.
It’s the perfect start for Argentina. Will Iceland have an answer?
Iceland have done well to get forwards in the first few minutes.
There was some desperate defending to do for Argentina’s Maximiliano Meza.
This game could be a lot closer than many expected.
Sitter!
What an opportunity Birkir Bjarnason!
The Aston Villa midfielder latches onto a square ball on the edge of the six-yard box and should have done better.
Iceland won’t get many chances better than that...
Chance!
Early chance for Argentina.
Messi whips in the free-kick from the left and Otamendi’s flick header trickles wide.
Confident start from the favourites.
PEEP!
Here we go!
Iceland get us underway.
Here come the teams!
The teams are out on the pitch.
We’ll now have the anthems, Argentina first followed by Iceland.
Electric atmosphere in Moscow. Big following from the South Americans.
The main man
Will Messi be the difference today?
Argentina fans very excited
Messi leads Argentina out for the warm-up and the fans are loving it.
Our man David McDonnell is in Moscow to watch the action unfold.
Punters fancying goals, goals, goals
Gamblers are looking for goals in this one.
Both teams to score in the first half is proving a popular selection at 9/2 with Betfair.
See all the odds for the game right here.
Fans arriving
Fans are in the mood.
Supporters of both countries are arriving at the ground with just under half an hour to kick off.
Where’s your money?
Team news!
Here’s how the two sides will line up this afternoon...
Argentina: Caballero; Salvio, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico; Biglia, Mascherano, Meza; Messi, Di Maria, Aguero
Iceland: Halldorsson; Magnusson, Sigurdsson, Arnason, Saevarsson; Bjarnason, Hallfredsson, Gunnarsson, Gudmundsson; Finnbogason, Sigurdsson