Cape Verde defenders leave Lionel Messi with a bruised head. Pose for photos after the game

Argentina captain Lionel Messi walked away from his bruising FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash against Cape Verde with more than just another Man of the Match award. The 39-year-old was left with a noticeable bruise on his forehead after taking a deep challenge to the head from a Cape Verdean defender during Argentina’s grueling 3-2 extra-time win in Miami on Friday.

The incident summed up the physical battle Messi endured all evening as Cape Verdean defenders swarmed him, fouled him and made every touch a contest in an attempt to stop the defending champions’ talisman.

Yet moments after the final whistle, the same defenders who had spent more than two hours trying to contain Messi patiently waited for him to finish their televised interviews before lining up to take pictures with the Argentine superstar.

The footage quickly spread across social media and captures one of football’s enduring realities – opponents who spend 120 minutes trying to stop Messi often become admirers after the contest.

Despite a lot of attention, Messi once again proved decisive for Argentina.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner opened the scoring with a superb first touch before finishing from a tight angle to take his tally to seven goals at the tournament. He then played a key role in the performance as Argentina found two more goals to overcome the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup.

However, the win again highlighted Argentina’s reliance on their captain.

Almost every meaningful attack went through Messi as Lionel Scaloni’s side struggled to create chances without him. Whenever Argentina needed inspiration, the ball inevitably found its way to the No.10, whether from open play, free-kicks or corners.

Cape Verde have a huge credit for making life miserable for the world champions. Their disciplined defensive shape restricted Argentina for long periods, while goalkeeper Vozinha produced another impressive performance to frustrate Messi, Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez.

But even after 120 grueling minutes in humid Miami, Messi found a way to influence the game once more.

His performance earned him another Man of the Match award as Argentina survived one of the toughest tests of the tournament to book their place in the Round of 16.

While the bruises on Messi’s forehead bore witness to the battle he had just fought, the queue of Cape Verdean players waiting to take a photo with him served as another reminder of the respect he continues to command in world football.

MESSI BREAKS FIFA WORLD CUP ASSISTS RECORD

Lionel Messi added another piece of World Cup history to his extraordinary career against Cape Verde when he overtook Diego Maradona to become the all-time leading assist provider in the tournament’s history. The Argentina captain moved to nine assists at the World Cup, surpassing the record of eight he previously shared with the legendary Maradona.

The milestone is another reminder that Messi’s World Cup legacy was never built on goals alone. Over the six editions of the tournament, the 39-year-old has combined elite goalscoring with world-class creativity and has repeatedly served as the heart of Argentina’s attack.

Surpassing Maradona in the World Cup has a special meaning. The two icons have long been compared as Argentina’s greatest footballers, with Maradona’s performances at Mexico 1986 serving as a benchmark for generations. Moving away from his predecessor, Messi now holds another World Cup record to add to an already unrivaled collection that includes most appearances, most minutes played and most matches won at the tournament.

However, individual milestones remain secondary for Messi. With Argentina safely through to the round of 16, his focus will now shift to defending the title the Albiceleste won in Qatar, although records still haunt him wherever he plays.

Football World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | football news

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

04 Jul 2026 10:43 IST