MIAMI : Lionel Messi once again carried Argentina through a World Cup scare, inspiring a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde on Friday while reinforcing the impression that the defending champions remain heavily dependent on their captain.
Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 with a series of decisive performances, again delivered when his team needed him most. The 39-year-old matched his seven-goal tally from Qatar by taking his total to seven goals in the 2026 tournament, continuing to rewrite the record books.
While questions about Messi’s longevity have faded, coach Lionel Scaloni still faces a familiar challenge: how long can Argentina continue relying on one extraordinary player to solve their biggest problems?
Messi at the heart of everything
Miami was awash with Argentina’s blue-and-white colours, with thousands of supporters creating a home-like atmosphere. Yet the occasion belonged to Messi, who collected another Player of the Match award after orchestrating virtually every attacking move.
Argentina’s attacks consistently flowed through their captain, and after a hydration break disrupted Cape Verde’s momentum, Messi struck. He controlled a long pass with a sublime first touch before finishing brilliantly from a tight angle.
Cape Verde refused to surrender, however. Coach Bubista spent halftime searching for answers, and his side were rewarded when Deroy Duarte equalised just before the hour mark.
Argentina turn to Messi once more
With the match finely balanced, Argentina again looked almost exclusively to Messi for inspiration. He repeatedly won free kicks, took every set piece and constantly looked to unlock Cape Verde’s defence.
Although he could not score from his free kicks, his deliveries from corners proved decisive. Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s lead after latching onto one of Messi’s pinpoint crosses, before Cristian Romero headed home the extra-time winner from another expertly delivered corner that took a deflection.
The victory kept Argentina’s title defence alive, but it also highlighted a recurring theme. Just as in their triumphant 2022 campaign, Argentina continue to rely on Messi at nearly every defining moment.
They still possess the tournament’s greatest player and leading inspiration—but their path forward appears closely tied to how much more their captain can deliver.
