Read 3 minutes4 Jul 2026 10:02 AM IST
After Argentina’s 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, Lionel Messi praised the newcomers and admitted the small island nation forced the defending champions to face Egypt in a tough 1-match tie in Miami.
A goal and an assist from Messi, including the game-winner off a corner kick midway through the second half of extra time, saved Argentina from the biggest upset in World Cup history.
Cape Verde’s ability to snatch points from giants like Spain and Uruguay was no coincidence, Messi said.
As happened | Argentina VS Cape Verde FIFA World Cup 2026 Highlights
“Well, to be honest, we knew this match was going to be very difficult. It’s not a coincidence that this team didn’t lose to Spain or Uruguay,” Messi said after his man of the match award.
Messi’s goal was the 20th of his World Cup career, extending his own record and moving him two past France’s Kylian Mbappé on the all-time list.
Reflecting on the game, Messi added, “We did the hardest thing, which was the first goal. We thought we would find our rhythm after that and be more relaxed, but it was completely the opposite.
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“Sometimes we lost possession, we sat back a bit, and we couldn’t press them effectively. They used their strength to attack. We knew it would be difficult. This is knockout football and nobody gives you anything for free.
Also read | On the night Cape Verde, the smallest nation in the World Cup, almost broke Messi’s Argentina
“Some might dismiss certain teams based on their names, but we knew it wasn’t going to be easy at all. That’s the nature of this World Cup. Everything is very even, very complicated and every match is incredibly difficult.”
Argentina endured one of their most terrifying 100-odd minutes on a football pitch in recent memory, until a Dine Borges own goal made it 3-2 in their favour.
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Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute and while the world expected more magic from him, 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and his team had other plans. They wanted to give the defending champion the scare of a lifetime.
Messi admitted that his side had put in “a lot of physical effort” and stressed the importance of recovery.
“Beyond just making progress, I believe there are some positives because we have done some good things, but we also need to correct mistakes, of which there were many today,” he said.