Argentina captain Lionel Messi has praised Cape Verde after the reigning world champions edged the African debutants 3-2 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash, admitting they proved far more difficult opponents than many had expected.
Messi said it came as no surprise that Cape Verde had previously held both Spain and Uruguay to draws during the group stage, insisting Argentina were fully aware of the threat posed by the tournament newcomers.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner revealed that although Argentina took an early lead, they were unable to dominate the contest as planned, with Cape Verde forcing them onto the back foot for long spells.
“Honestly, we knew beforehand that the match would be extremely tough. And it’s no coincidence that this national team hasn’t lost to Spain or Uruguay,” Messi said after the match.
“We managed to achieve the hardest part by scoring the first goal, and we thought that would help us impose our playing style and play with greater calm, but exactly the opposite happened.
“We lost control of the game at certain moments, fell back defensively and did not apply the necessary pressure, which allowed them to take advantage and score. We were aware that the challenge would be difficult. These are knockout rounds, and nothing is given freely.”
Messi opened the scoring for Argentina with his seventh goal of the tournament, taking his overall World Cup tally to 20. The veteran forward came close to adding another, but Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha produced a string of outstanding saves to keep his side in contention until the final whistle.
Making their first-ever World Cup appearance, Cape Verde have emerged as one of the competition’s biggest success stories. The Blue Sharks announced themselves on the global stage by holding Spain to a goalless draw before earning a 1-1 stalemate against Uruguay in the group phase, and they once again impressed with a spirited display against the defending champions.
Argentina remain unbeaten after four matches and have conceded just three goals en route to the Round of 16, where they will face Egypt on 7 July at Atlanta Stadium.
Although Cape Verde’s remarkable run has come to an end, they leave the tournament with their reputation significantly enhanced. Their fearless performances against three of the world’s strongest footballing nations have earned widespread admiration and marked a memorable debut on football’s biggest stage.
