Argentina captain Lionel Messi has highlighted the tactical issues his squad faced during their 2026 World Cup Round of 32 clash with Cape Verde. While Argentina eventually secured a 3-2 victory in extra time following a 1-1 stalemate at Miami Stadium, the path to success was difficult.
A late own goal by Diney Borges ultimately ended Cape Verde’s tournament run. Despite the result, Messi noted that his team struggled significantly with their pressing strategy throughout the match.
Reflecting on the performance, Messi explained that the squad suffered from being disjointed, as their defensive lines lacked necessary cohesion. He noted that the distance between the defensive pivot and the center-backs was too large, which prevented the team from applying effective pressure. This tactical gap allowed Cape Verde to maintain possession and force Argentina to chase the game, as the South American side failed to track the extra men consistently.
