Lionel Messi continued his remarkable World Cup form on Friday with another decisive performance. He scored as Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in a tightly contested knockout match.
The Argentina captain struck in the 29th minute. That goal marked his 20th World Cup goal. He now leads France’s Kylian Mbappé by two goals in the all time World Cup scoring chart.
Messi also extended his record run to eight consecutive World Cup matches with at least one goal. The streak highlights his consistency across multiple tournaments and high pressure knockout games.
He came close earlier in the match. In the 15th minute, he dragged a left footed shot just wide. Moments later, his free kick was saved comfortably by the goalkeeper.
Cape Verde stayed organised in defence during the early stages. Argentina struggled to break them down in the final third.
Martinez assist opens the door as Argentina respond
The breakthrough came after a precise pass from Lisandro Martínez. He split the defence with a perfectly timed ball into the box.
Messi reacted instantly. He stayed onside and controlled the pass. He then lifted a calm finish over the goalkeeper to give Argentina the lead.
The goal was his 124th international strike. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo remains ahead in the global scoring list with 146 goals.
Messi acknowledged the assist immediately. He pointed toward Martínez as Argentina took control of the match.
Cape Verde refused to collapse. They responded with intensity and pushed Argentina into a tense second half. The match became more open and physical as both sides created chances.
Momentum swung repeatedly before full time. Neither side managed to secure a winner in regulation time.
Extra time drama sends Argentina through
The match went into extra time after Cape Verde equalised late in normal play. Argentina eventually found the winning goal to seal a 3-2 victory.
The result secured Argentina’s place in the Round of 16. It also extended Messi’s extraordinary World Cup legacy.
He now leads the tournament Golden Boot race with seven goals. Kylian Mbappé follows closely with six. Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Harry Kane remain in contention with five each.
Messi has scored 12 goals across his last eight World Cup appearances. That run underlines his long term impact at the highest level.
He finished runner up in the 2022 Golden Boot race with seven goals. He also shared third place in 2014, showing his consistent presence among top scorers.
Argentina continue their campaign with confidence. However, they needed extra time to overcome a determined Cape Verde side that tested them throughout the match.
Messi’s record now stands as one of the most dominant scoring runs in World Cup history. His performance once again shaped Argentina’s progress on football’s biggest stage.
