- Lionel Messi scored his seventh goal of the World Cup 2026 for Argentina against Cape Verde in the last 32 tie in Miami.
- The 39-year-old's goal gave the defending champions the lead and marked his 20th career goal at this level.
- Pundits, including Ian Wright, lauded Messi for his “total control” of Lisandro Martinez's pass before his steep finish past Vozinha.
- Gary Neville noted Messi's ability to appear “disinterested” before executing a brilliant play, while Karen Carney likened him to a “lion stalking his prey.”
- This goal extended Messi's scoring streak to eight consecutive games in the World Cup, with the winner of the tie set to face Egypt in Atlanta.
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