Here is the latest update from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as of 2026-07-04 05:08:00.
Lionel Messi expressed that Argentina has “many” areas to improve on following a thrilling 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in extra time at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, highlighting his team’s flaws in the round-of-32 match.
“Today, we put in a huge effort, as always, playing well and playing badly,” Messi stated after the match. “But the key is to rest, reflect on what’s next, and take the positives from this game. Qualifying is significant, but we also need to rectify the numerous mistakes we made today.”
Match Highlights
Messi initiated the scoring with a brilliant goal, but Cape Verde responded strongly, pushing the game into extra time. During this period, Argentina initially took the lead, only for Sidny Lopes Cabral to level once more with a breathtaking strike.
An own goal by Diney Borges, deflected from a Cristian Romero header, ultimately secured Argentina’s advancement to the round of 16 for the sixth consecutive World Cup.
Notably, Cape Verde made history during the FIFA World Cup 2026 by becoming the smallest nation to progress to the knockout stages, with a population of just 525,000—less than Wyoming, the least populated U.S. state.
Messi’s Reflections
Messi praised the 67th-ranked national team for the challenges they posed throughout the match. “We anticipated it would be tough; they hadn’t lost to teams like Spain and Uruguay for a reason,” Messi remarked. “We thought after scoring the first goal we’d settle in, but it went the opposite way. We lost control, struggled to press, and they exploited their strengths. It’s a knockout tournament; nothing comes easily.”
Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, acknowledged the team’s weaknesses in his post-match conference, emphasizing the need for discussion regarding their performance. “Every opponent is challenging; congratulations to Cape Verde,” Scaloni noted. “While we’ll address the negatives, we also recognize the positives—we kept fighting.”
With this victory, Argentina extended their winning streak to 11 matches, the longest in team history. Messi also made headlines by becoming the highest goal scorer in men’s World Cup history, now with 20 goals—a tally that leads Kylian Mbappé by two. He has scored in eight consecutive World Cup games, netting 12 goals in his last eight tournaments.
Argentina is set to face Egypt in the round of 16 on Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
FAQs
What did Messi say about Argentina’s performance?
Messi noted there are “many” areas for improvement despite the team’s victory over Cape Verde.
Who will Argentina face next in the tournament?
Argentina will play Egypt in the round of 16 on Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Key Facts
- Category:
- Source: www.espn.com – SOCCER
- Published: 2026-07-04 05:08:00
Read more on the FIFA World Cup 2026 right here as the tournament continues.
Tags: #Lionel #Messi #Argentina #bad #correct
Tags: #Lionel #Messi #Argentina #bad #correct
