Lionel Messi scored again and made history again as defending champions Argentina edged Cape Verde 3-2 on Friday to book a place in the World Cup Round of 16.
The 39-year-old’s first-half chip was his 7th goal of the tournament and took him to 20 career World Cup goals — extending the all-time record he set earlier in the group stage.
*Another Record-Breaking Night*
Messi timed his run onto a Lisandro Martínez pass, took it in stride with one touch, and lifted it over the goalkeeper.
With that strike he became:
– *The first player, male or female, to score 20 World Cup goals*
– *The first to score in eight consecutive World Cup appearances*
– *The first to score 7 or more goals at two separate World Cups* — also doing it in Qatar 2022
His 7 goals in 2026 alone would have won the Golden Boot in five of the last six World Cups.
“It’s just one record after another,” ITV’s Ally McCoist said. “It’s amazing.”
BBC Radio 5 Live’s James McFadden called it “just incredible,” adding: “The run is beyond the backline, the timing is excellent, and his first touch is exquisite.”
By Messi’s standards it was not a dominant night. Cape Verde, ranked outside the top 60, frustrated the world No.2 side for long periods and played without fear.
But as he has done so many times, Messi needed only one moment. Argentina survived a chaotic contest to advance 3-2.
The atmosphere in Miami was pure Argentina. Hours before kickoff, fans in sky blue and white filled the streets, singing, drumming and posing under giant flags.
Inside the stadium, No.10 shirts dominated. One banner pictured Messi and Diego Maradona as saint-like figures.
“He’s our hero,” one fan said. “He’s like our God.”
“He has aged like fine wine,” said another. “The older he gets, the better he gets.”
What separates Messi now isn’t just finishing, but football intelligence. At 39 he is picking his moments, conserving energy, and reading space better than anyone.
He’s also working harder off the ball in this tournament.
“Throughout the years, Messi has walked at times to assess what is happening,” McFadden said. “But here he is getting back to win the ball and leading the press. It’s not a full high-energy press, but he is leading it.”
Argentina now turn to the Round of 16, with Messi one goal away from 8 in the tournament and in contention for a second straight World Cup Golden Boot.
