Lionel Messi applied another touch of magic to net for a record-extending eighth World Cup match and move outright top of the scoring charts at the 2026 edition with the opener for Argentina against Cape Verde on Friday.
After a promising start for the huge underdogs, Messi brought Lisandro Martinez’s arrowed long pass down inside the box and lifted a finish into the roof of the net in the 29th minute as the player with the most goals in the history of the tournament scored his 20th World Cup goal.
“He waits a split second and then just lofts it over the goalkeeper,” former Scotland striker Ally McCoist told ITV after seeing Messi eclipse France forward Kylian Mbappe’s tally of six in the top scorer standings.
“You think he’s going to put it in the goalkeeper’s bottom right-hand side, and he just lofts it over him. Genius at work, that’s all that is.
“He picked his spot. Nine players out of ten try to roll it in the far corner, but he just lofts it in at the near post. Genius.”
Argentina vs Cape Verde: Messi goal ‘first class’ at World Cup
Cape Verde had already caused a surprise by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw in their first-ever World Cup match and the Blue Sharks held their own to show why they had reached the last 32 unbeaten.
“They’d get to the hydration break delighted and think ‘right, let’s go again – another five-to-10 minutes, see if we can keep it tight, see if we can get by the next 10 minutes, see if we can get to half-time.’
“Forget it. That’s what happens when you’ve got brilliance in your team. You can talk about the finish, but half of it is his movement to spin in behind [full-back] Diney Borjes.
“The young fellow’s movement, as well as his finish, were absolutely first-class. He’s just on the shoulder of Borjes and it’s just enough.
“The ball just drops over him. It’s a perfectly weighted pass. what a pass. Messi takes a magnificent touch, and then a split-second – that touch is brilliant.
“It’s just one record after another – it’s amazing.”
The winners of the tie will face Egypt, who earlier beat Australia on penalties, in the last 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday (17:00 BST).
World Cup 2026: Argentina team vs Cape Verde
Messi returned in one of nine Argentina changes from their 3-1 win over Jordan on matchday three, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and forward Lautaro Martinez the pair retained.
Argentina starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi, Thiago Almada, Lautaro Martinez
Argentina substitutes: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Paredes, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nico Gonzalez, Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez
World Cup 2026: Cape Verde team vs Argentina
Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Jovane Cabral, Laros Duarte and Nuno Da Costa came in for Cape Verde, with Wagner Pina, Joao Paulo, Jamiro Monteiro, Willy Semedo and Dailon Livramento moving to the bench from their 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia.
Cape Verde starting XI: Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico Lopes, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Nuno Da Costa, Ryan Mendes
Cape Verde substitutes: Marcio Rosa, Cj Dos Santos, Stopira, Logan Costa, Wagner Pina, Kelvin Pires, Joao Paulo, Jamiro Monteiro, Garry Rodrigues, Yannick Semedo, Willy Semedo, Telmo Arcanjo, Helio Varela, Gilson Benchimol, Dailon Livramento
Where to watch Argentina v Cape Verde: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday was at 23:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). In the UK, live TV coverage is on ITV1.
Streaming is via ITV’s website and ITVX app, which is available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.
