‘Cape Verde Made Us Suffer’ – Messi Admits Argentina Were Pushed To The Limit

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has praised Cape Verde after the reigning world champions edged the African debutants 3-2 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash, admitting they proved far more difficult opponents than many had expected.
Messi said it came as no surprise that Cape Verde had previously held both Spain and Uruguay to draws during the group stage, insisting Argentina were fully aware of the threat posed by the tournament newcomers.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner revealed that although Argentina took an early lead, they were unable to dominate the contest as planned, with Cape Verde forcing them onto the back foot for long spells.
“Honestly, we knew beforehand ...