Lionel Messi joked about the physical intensity of Cape Verde’s challenge after Argentina’s hard-fought 3-2 victory in their World Cup last-16 qualifier in Miami on Friday.
The Argentine captain said his opponents “kick the crap out of me” on the pitch, before sharing a lighter moment with them after the final whistle as several Cape Verde players lined up to request his shirt and take selfies, which he obliged.
Argentina were pushed throughout the encounter by a determined Cape Verde side, making the win far from straightforward despite their qualification for the next round.
Reflecting on the match, Messi praised Argentina’s set-piece work, noting that it had been an area of focus in recent preparations.
“We’ve been working on it for a while, both offensively and defensively. In a competition like this, it’s important,” he said, as quoted by TyC Sports.
He also admitted that Argentina lost control of the game after taking the lead, allowing their opponents back into contention.
“We lost possession, we sat back, we couldn’t press effectively,” he added.
Despite the uneven performance, Argentina advanced to the last 16, where they will face Egypt, who progressed after defeating Australia on penalties.
Messi also reached a personal milestone in the match, scoring his 20th career World Cup goal.
