Lionel Messi is set to make his 30th appearance in a World Cup match tonight, further solidifying his record as the player with the most matches played in men’s World Cup history. Accompanying him in the forward line will be Lautaro Martinez, while Julian Alvarez will start the game on the bench.
For Cape Verde, midfielder Telmo Arcanjo, who has been dealing with a leg injury, will begin on the sidelines. Sidny Lopes Cabral returns from suspension and is positioned to start at left-back.
Argentina’s lineup features Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi (captain), Thiago Almada, and Lautaro Martinez.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde will field Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico Lopes, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Ryan Mendes (captain), and Nuno da Costa.
Pablo Maurer is present at the match and notes that this is nearly a home game for Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi. As if he needed any additional support:
Several teams have experienced more losses in this World Cup than Cape Verde, including Germany, Sweden, Japan, Uruguay, Norway, and Croatia.
It’s worth noting that Cape Verde has yet to secure a victory, but they have managed to draw against teams such as Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, and Spain, who are generally regarded as strong opponents. Their best strategy for today might involve holding out long enough to create doubt in Argentina’s minds, tire them out in the heat, and then clinch a victory through penalties, relying on Vozinha’s potential heroics. Argentina’s true strength remains somewhat unclear, as they have not faced significant challenges thus far in the tournament. Should they be defeated, how shall we label it? The Miracle in Miami? Sharks Tank Champs? Perhaps something else?
The victor of this match is set to face Egypt, who recently triumphed over Australia in a penalty shootout. In a surprising tactical choice, the Socceroos had two central defenders take their penalties, one of whom is only 18 years old. This marks the first time Egypt has progressed from a knockout match. Scott Murray will provide updates:
Aand we’re going to penalties in Australia v Egypt. Follow along here. I am now liveblogging a liveblog. They actually pay me for this:
In my thorough research for this liveblog—yes, I googled ‘Who is this Messi guy’—I discovered Cape Verde. Now, I’m tempted to vacation there. Just to clarify, I’m not receiving any funding from the Cape Verde Tourist Board for this. For balance, I’ve heard that Argentina is also a fantastic destination.
The winners of this encounter will take on either Australia or Egypt, who are currently in the second extra-time period of their last 32 match. You can keep track of all the action through our liveblog:
The east coast of the US has been enveloped in a sweltering heatwave for several days, yet the weather in Miami Gardens is relatively tolerable (by local standards). At kickoff, temperatures are expected to reach 30°C (86°F), which is not ideal but still manageable for many players on the Cape Verde squad, particularly Pico Lopes, who is accustomed to competing in the intense heat of Dublin with Shamrock Rovers. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, has spent the last few Julys playing in—let’s see… Miami!
Although Hard Rock/Miami Stadium lacks air conditioning, it is designed to capture breezes. The one time I visited, it was rather pleasant, though I must admit that was in February.
Greetings! It’s a fairytale moment as Cape Verde, the smallest nation still in the World Cup, faces off against the reigning champions, Argentina, led by the greatest player of our time. According to Opta’s Very Big And Clever Super Computer, Cape Verde has a 10% chance of winning tonight, which seems a tad optimistic?
If they manage to pull off an upset, it would be akin to previous sporting shocks, such as Japan defeating South Africa at the Rugby World Cup, Leicester winning the Premier League, or Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson. The trend of surprises continues with Cameroon’s victory over Argentina in the 1990 World Cup and Saudi Arabia’s win against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup… wait, I’m sensing a pattern here.
Tom will join shortly. Meanwhile, here’s what Graham Ruthven has to say about this match in his daily watch guide:
What to Watch For
Argentina has had a solid performance in their World Cup title defense. Messi and his teammates successfully navigated the group stage, scoring eight goals and conceding just one. Based on their display thus far, La Albiceleste looks formidable and challenging to stop.
Cape Verde has made history at every opportunity this summer. Not only did they qualify for their first World Cup, but they are now set to compete in their first knockout match against the reigning champions. They have managed to keep Spain and Uruguay at bay and will strive to replicate that against Argentina.
Player to watch: Lionel Messi, Argentina – The GOAT has been in outstanding form, netting six goals in just three matches. Even at 39, Messi remains unparalleled when it comes to influencing a match at the highest level. There is truly no one else like him.
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- Argentina
- Cape Verde
