Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team are set to clash with tournament debutants Cape Verde in the Round of 32. The match will be hosted in Miami as coach Lionel Scaloni leads his squad in their defense of the championship title.
Argentina secured their spot in the knockout phase after finishing atop Group J. During this run, Messi achieved a significant milestone by becoming the highest-scoring male player in international football history, surpassing the records held by Miroslav Klose and Kylian. His recent performance included two goals against Austria and a hat-trick against Algeria. Additionally, Messi joined Just Fontaine and Jairzinho by scoring in six consecutive games.
Conversely, Cape Verde represents a major underdog story. Despite finishing as runner-up in Group H behind Spain, the team reached this stage without securing a single victory, relying on draws against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. As the third smallest nation by population to advance this far, they now face the challenge of competing against the reigning champions.
