Lionel Messi Reflects on Argentina's Narrow Victory Over Cape Verde
Argentina Advances to Round of 16
A file image of Argentina football legend Lionel Messi (Photo: @Beta_footballs/X)
Miami, July 4: Argentina's captain, Lionel Messi, acknowledged that there are 'many aspects to improve' after his team narrowly defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time, securing their spot in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The reigning champions required an own goal in extra time, resulting from a corner taken by Messi, to overcome a determined Cape Verde team after facing setbacks during a thrilling match at Miami Stadium on Saturday. Argentina is set to face Egypt in the next round.
After the match, Messi emphasized that merely qualifying is insufficient, urging the team to learn from their errors as they prepare for the knockout phase.
"We exerted a tremendous effort today, as we always do, experiencing both good and bad moments. However, the key now is to rest, reflect on what lies ahead, and extract positives from this match. Beyond just advancing, there were some good aspects, but we also need to address the numerous mistakes we made today," Messi stated post-match, as reported by ESPN.
Messi, who scored the opening goal in the 29th minute, extending his record of scoring in eight consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, admitted that Argentina struggled to maintain control after taking the lead.
"We anticipated a challenging match; this team hadn't lost to Spain and Uruguay for a reason. We accomplished the hardest part by scoring first, but instead of gaining confidence, we lost our grip on the game. We became passive, failed to apply pressure effectively, and they capitalized on their strengths," he explained.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner noted that Argentina was aware of the tough challenge posed by Cape Verde, emphasizing that knockout football demands full focus and effort.
"We understood it would be tough; this is a knockout tournament, and nothing is given for free," Messi remarked.
Argentina remains unbeaten in the tournament, aiming to make history by becoming the first team in 64 years to successfully defend their World Cup title.