Argentina captain Lionel Messi praised Cape Verde after his side’s hard-fought 3-2 victory over the World Cup debutants in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Leadership on Friday, July 4, 2026, Messi said Argentina had expected a difficult contest after watching Cape Verde’s impressive performances in the group stage, where the African side earned draws against Spain and Uruguay.
Despite taking an early lead, Argentina struggled to control the match as Cape Verde responded with a disciplined and determined display, scoring twice and forcing the defending champions to battle until the closing stages before securing qualification.
“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,” Messi said.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said Argentina’s coaching staff and players had prepared for a well-organised opponent capable of causing problems, adding that Cape Verde’s performance justified the respect they had earned during their historic debut tournament.
