Lionel Messi scored again — and the records keep piling up. The Argentine captain netted the opener in Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the FIFA World Cup last 32, staged in Miami, bringing his tally for this tournament to seven goals and his all-time World Cup total to a historic 20.

That 20th goal makes Messi the first player — male or female — to reach that milestone in World Cup finals football. He has also now scored in eight consecutive World Cup appearances, a streak no other player has matched. To cap it all, he is the first player to score seven or more goals at two separate World Cups, having reached that mark in 2022 as well.

The goal that rewrote the record books

The finish itself was a masterclass in timing and composure. Messi read Lisandro Martinez's pass perfectly, collected the ball in his stride, and lifted it over the Cape Verde goalkeeper with his characteristic calm. Former Scotland forward James McFadden, commentating on BBC Radio 5 Live, called the run and finish "just incredible," praising the timing of the run, the weight of the pass, and the quality of Messi's first touch.

On ITV, Ally McCoist was equally effusive, describing the moment as "genius at work" and adding: "It's just one record after another. It's amazing."

Cape Verde made Argentina work hard for the win. Despite sitting outside the world's top 60, they frustrated the second-ranked side for long stretches, showing a confidence that belied the gap in the rankings. Yet, as so often in his career, Messi waited patiently and delivered when it mattered.

A different kind of greatness

What continues to set Messi apart at 39 years old is not raw energy but an almost unrivalled grasp of space and timing. He scans the pitch before receiving the ball, reads situations before they develop, and conserves himself for the moments that count. McFadden noted another dimension to his game in this tournament: "Here he is getting back to try and win the ball and is leading the press. It's not a full, high-energy press, but he is leading it."

His goal tally of seven would have made him the leading scorer in five of the past six World Cups. Across the 13 editions held since 1978, it would have been enough to top the scoring charts in all but two.

Why Miami belongs to Messi

If Messi mania is strongest anywhere outside Argentina, it is in Miami. Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, his influence has spread far beyond the football pitch. Murals cover building walls across the city, his image fills shop windows, and children in Argentina's number 10 shirt play football on the beach.

The passion was visible long before kick-off, with Argentina supporters lining the streets in sky blue and white, beating drums and singing beneath giant flags. Inside the stadium, banners portrayed Messi alongside Diego Maradona as near-saintly figures — a reflection of the reverence in which both icons are held.

"He's our hero," one fan said before the match. "He's like our God." Another added: "He has aged like fine wine. The older he gets, the better he gets."

The city's food scene has even felt his presence. Several Argentine restaurants serve the milanesa — a breaded beef or chicken dish considered one of Messi's favourites — with some venues naming menu items in his honour.

In the press zone after matches, journalists crowd together hoping for a glimpse of him, microphones thrust into the air and cameras stretched above the crowd. Conversations stop the moment he appears, before he slips down the corridor moments later — leaving behind only the buzz of a city still captivated by one of football's greatest ever players.