[PHOTO] Lionel Messi's visible forehead bruise from Argentina vs Cape Verde FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 win
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Messi inspired Argentina to a hard-fought win.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina escaped a scare to advance to the World Cup round of 16 with a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Cape Verde in extra time on Friday.
Tottenham defender Cristian Romero put in an effort for the game-winning goal in the 111th minute. It went in via a deflection off Diney Borges from Lionel Messi’s corner. Cape Verde really threatened to create possibly the greatest upset in World Cup history.
The African debutants equalised twice, once in extra time, putting the defending world champions on the verge of an inconceivable shock.
Lionel Messi remained on the field for the whole game, demonstrating the difficulty Cape Verde faced.
Lionel Messi remained the driving factor behind the Argentina national team’s success. La Albiceleste captain scored the first goal in the round of 32 encounter against Cape Verde in the 29th minute. His goal broke the 0-0 deadlock.
He now has a goal in eight straight World Cup games, extending his record as the top goalscorer in men’s World Cup history to 20. Messi dominated the opponent on the field, with one goal, nine total shots, and an assist on the game-winning goal.
Also read: Who will Argentina face in round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating Cape Verde?
Did Lionel Messi suffer an injury against Cape Verde?
No, he didn’t suffer any injury. But a bruise in the game, which could be seen during his post-match interview.
Lionel Messi left Argentina’s gruelling FIFA World Cup game against Cape Verde with a noticeable bruise on his forehead. Despite the physical toll and a huge scare from the tournament debutants, Messi scored to help Argentina avoid a dramatic upset. With a 3-2 victory, they advance to the Round of 16.
The physically difficult contest lasted a long 120 minutes. The reigning champions had to dig deep to defeat a tenacious Cape Verde defence.
Has Messi suffered any injury?
No, he has a bruise on his forehead.
Who won the game?
Argentina won 3-2.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.