Argentina are on the brink of a shock early exit if they fail to beat Nigeria in their final group game.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side drew to Iceland before being humiliated 3-0 by Croatia to leave them on the brink.
Messi, who celebrated his 31st birthday with a cake on Sunday, missed a crucial penalty against Iceland and is yet to open his World Cup account.
But international team-mate Mascherano said he’s ready to carry his side across the line and get the job done in Saint Petersburg.
Speaking to reporters, the 34-year-old said: “Leo is fine. But as a collective, where things don’t go as we’d like, we all have our own frustrations.
“He’s human and he has his own frustrations but he’s desperate to turn the situation around.
“He wants to show the world a different image to the one we’ve shown in the first two games.”
The Argentina squad are in disarray after Mascherano rallied the team together to plot a failed coup against boss Jorge Sampaoli.
Mascherano and his team-mates demanded change at the helm as part of a “pact for life” before the Nigeria game.
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