Lionel Messi laughed off the tough challenges he faced from Cape Verde players after Argentina clinched a narrow 3-2 win to reach the World Cup round of 16. The Argentina captain joked that his opponents “kick the crap” out of him during the game before coming over for shirt swaps and selfies, while admitting that his side did not perform at their best.

Messi reflects on Argentina’s hard-fought win

Messi shared a cheerful moment with Cape Verde players following Argentina’s thrilling victory in Miami. Despite a fiercely competitive encounter, several Cape Verde players waited after the final whistle to meet Messi, requesting shirts and photos, and the star forward graciously obliged.

Messi’s humorous take on Cape Verde’s physical play

The Albiceleste were made to work hard throughout the contest by their spirited opponents. Messi later acknowledged the intensity of the match but took it in good humour as he navigated post-match exchanges with the Cape Verde squad.

“They asked for my jersey, everything... On the field, they kick the crap out of me,” Messi joked, speaking to TyC Sports.

The skipper also underlined how set-pieces made the difference in Argentina’s triumph. “This team has been showing for a long time that it competes and will fight until the end. Today, we saw the importance of set-pieces, something we hadn’t been converting well recently. In matches like this, it makes a big difference. We have good headers and players strong in the air,” he explained.

He continued, “Today we managed to capitalise on that, and it’s going to be crucial. We’ve been working on it for some time, both offensively and defensively. In a tournament of this level, it’s vital.”

Messi calls for improvement despite advancing

Although Argentina secured qualification for the knockout stage, Messi admitted that the overall display left room for improvement. He felt that the team lost control after scoring first instead of building momentum.

“We knew it was going to be a very tough match,” Messi said. “There’s a reason this team hadn’t lost to Spain or Uruguay. We did the hardest part by finding the opening goal, and we believed that would help us settle into our rhythm. But it turned out quite the opposite. We lost possession, dropped deeper, and couldn’t press effectively.”

Argentina prepare for Egypt challenge

With the win, Argentina confirmed their place in the World Cup last 16, setting up a clash with Egypt, who advanced after a penalty shootout victory over Australia. The match also saw Messi reach the milestone of 20 career World Cup goals. However, the focus now turns to refining Argentina’s performance as they aim to continue their title defence.