Lionel Messi cracked a smile after one of the most demanding nights of his FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, joking that Cape Verde's players hammered him throughout the match — then had the audacity to ask for his jersey at the final whistle.
Argentina survived a genuine scare to beat the tournament debutants 3-2 after extra-time in the Round of 32, scraping into the last 16 in a five-goal thriller that had the world champions on the ropes for long stretches.
A tournament milestone and a Cape Verde masterclass
Messi broke the deadlock with his seventh goal of the tournament, only for Cape Verde to hit back and force extra-time. Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina's lead at 2-1, but Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning equaliser — one of the standout goals of this World Cup — to level the contest once more.
An own goal from a corner kick ultimately settled the tie, sending the reigning champions through by the narrowest of margins.
Despite the battering he took, Messi was generous in his assessment of the opponents who took him to the limit. He pointed out that Cape Verde's display was no surprise given their earlier results against Spain and Uruguay in the group stage.
