Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has hailed Cape Verde following their 3-2 victory in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He noted that it was not surprising that teams such as Spain and Uruguay were unable to defeat Cape Verde earlier in the tournament.
Messi asserted that his team was fully aware of the challenges posed by the newcomers, given their performances against Spain and Uruguay.
In a post-match interview, Messi conveyed his satisfaction with the win over Cape Verde, although their performance did not catch him off guard.
He remarked that his team primarily sought to maintain control of the game in a composed manner, yet they found themselves working harder than anticipated.
He said, “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.
“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.”
Lionel Messi netted the first goal, but Vozinha thwarted him several times from increasing his score.
He now boasts 20 goals, with seven of those scored in this tournament.
Argentina is set to face Egypt next in the Round of 16, scheduled for July 7 at the Atlanta Stadium.
The reigning champions, under the leadership of Lionel Messi, remain undefeated in the tournament and have only allowed three goals against them so far.