Argentina survived a serious test against Cape Verde, securing a 3-2 victory in extra time during their Round of 32 matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup early Saturday morning.
Despite winning Man of the Match and scoring the opening goal in the 29th minute, captain Lionel Messi delivered a blunt assessment of his team’s performance at Miami Stadium. “We need to improve, to correct the mistakes, which we made a lot of today,” the forward said after the final whistle. The grueling 120-minute battle exposed unexpected defensive vulnerabilities as the Blue Sharks fought back to equalize twice.
The Argentine captain specifically pointed to structural issues on the pitch. According to a post-match report, Messi noted the squad’s lines were playing too far apart and they struggled to apply the right pressure against their opponents. This tactical breakdown forced the defending champions into a much longer contest than anticipated as the knockout stage begins across the tournament.
The opening strike did secure a significant individual milestone for Messi. The 29th-minute goal was his 20th career World Cup goal, a feat that drew immediate praise from international sports media and football figures like Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on live broadcasts.
Argentina must now quickly recalibrate their tactical organization before their next elimination clash. They face Egypt in the Round of 16, with kickoff scheduled for July 7.