Messi’s bump – Lionel Messi needed an ice pack after colliding with Cape Verde’s defender during Argentina’s 3-2, extra-time win that booked a last-16 meeting with Egypt. Messi scored again, but the match swung wildly, with Cape Verde forcing extra-time through Deroy Duarte
Lionel Messi didn’t just help Argentina avoid a World Cup shock — he also carried the reminder into the night.
The 39-year-old was treated after taking a knee to his forehead during the match against Cape Verde. He went down, then whacked his head against an opponent’s leg before reaching for an ice pack to settle the impact. The worry on the day was immediate; the comeback part of the story came later.
Argentina still found a way into the last 16, winning 3-2 after extra-time. Messi was on the scoresheet again, scoring the first goal on 29 minutes after effortlessly bringing down a long pass and lifting the ball over goalkeeper Vozinha.
For all the magic in that finish, the game didn’t follow the script for long. Cape Verde responded with a jolt right before the hour mark when Deroy Duarte grabbed an equaliser, forcing the match beyond regular time.
In extra-time, Lisandro Martinez — of Manchester United — struck with a powerful shot to dampen Cape Verde’s momentum. But the night refused to end cleanly for Argentina.
Sidny Lopes Cabral then produced what looked like the decisive moment for the West African side, curling a long-range screamer into the far corner and running off to celebrate with the crowd, convinced it had taken them to penalties.
Football had other plans. Argentina were denied that fairytale finish when an own goal from Diney in the 111th minute, coming from an Argentina corner, swung the result back to the side in blue and white.
After the final whistle, Messi summed up the tension of the matchup without hiding from how difficult it became. “Honestly, we already knew this was going to be a very difficult match. It wasn’t a coincidence that this team didn’t lose to Spain or Uruguay,” he said.
He added that scoring first didn’t bring the control Argentina expected. “Scoring the first goal was the hardest part, and we thought it would help us control the game and play with more calm, but the exact opposite happened.”
Messi pointed to the moments that undid them: “We lost possession at times, dropped a little too deep, and couldn’t press them the way we wanted. They took advantage of their strengths and found the equalizer. We knew this was always going to be a complicated game.”
As the tournament shifts into its knockout phase, Messi made clear that reputations mean little once games become do-or-die. “These are knockout matches, nobody gives you anything for free. Some people might underestimate certain teams because of their names. but we knew this was never going to be an easy match.”.
He stressed how close everything is in this World Cup. “That’s what makes this World Cup so special. Everything is incredibly close, and every single game is extremely difficult.”
Now the focus turns quickly. Argentina will face Egypt in the last 16, and Messi’s immediate priority was recovery. “Now the most important thing is to recover, focus on the next match, and take the positives from today’s game,” he said.
One bruise on his forehead said he had paid for that survival. The scoreline said Argentina weren’t ready to go quietly — not against Cape Verde, and not with the World Cup still this unforgiving.
Lionel Messi Argentina Cape Verde World Cup extra-time Deroy Duarte Lisandro Martinez Sidny Lopes Cabral Diney own goal Egypt Vozinha