Messi Praises Cabo Verde After Argentina's Narrow Victory in World Cup

In a gripping encounter, Argentina edged past Cabo Verde with a 3-2 victory, securing their spot in the World Cup round of 16. Lionel Messi praised the resilience of the Cabo Verde team, acknowledging the challenges they posed throughout the match. Despite opening the scoring, Argentina faced a tough battle, with Messi highlighting the importance of the first goal and the need for improvement moving forward. As they prepare to face Egypt, Messi emphasizes the significance of rest and learning from their performance. Discover more about this thrilling match and Messi's insights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 4, 2026, 09:18 IST

Argentina Advances to Round of 16

Argentina secured their place in the round of 16 with a hard-fought victory against a determined Cabo Verde team. Superstar Lionel Messi commended their opponents for not allowing his team to settle into their rhythm, emphasizing that they anticipated a challenging match, as 'everything is even' in the FIFA World Cup.

During the match, Messi's team faced intense pressure for over 100 minutes until a crucial own goal by Diney Borges sealed a 3-2 win, setting them up for a clash against Egypt, led by Mo Salah. Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, but Cabo Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha and his teammates had other plans, providing a significant challenge to the defending champions.

Messi Reflects on the Tough Match

In the post-match interview, Messi noted that Cabo Verde's previous draws against Euro champions Spain and Uruguay were no coincidence, highlighting the skill and determination of the debutant team. He remarked that the most challenging aspect of the game was securing the first goal.

"Honestly, we were aware it would be a tough match. It's no surprise that this team has not lost to Spain or Uruguay. Scoring that first goal was crucial for us. We thought it would help us find our rhythm, but it turned out to be the opposite," Messi explained.

"At times, we lost possession and sat back too much, which hindered our ability to press effectively. They capitalized on their strengths. We knew it would be tough; knockout football offers no easy matches. Some may underestimate teams based on their names, but we understood the challenge ahead. This World Cup is particularly competitive, and every match is incredibly demanding," he added.

Looking Ahead

Messi acknowledged the significant physical effort his team exerted and stressed the importance of resting, focusing on future matches, and learning from their performance. He stated, "While advancing is important, we must also recognize the positives from today's game, as we executed some good plays, but we need to address the numerous mistakes we made."