‘We knew this would be very tough’: Messi admits Cabo Verde pushed Argentina to the limit

Defending champions Argentina narrowly escaped a major upset, defeating debutants Cabo Verde 3-2 in extra time to advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Lionel Messi opened the scoring, but Cabo Verde fought back twice. An own goal ultimately sealed Argentina’s victory, with Messi acknowledging the tough challenge and praising his opponents’ spirited performance. The win keeps Argentina on track, with Messi extending his scoring record.