When Messi Met Cape Verde’s Vozinha at His Best in an Unforgettable Clash

World Cup, create one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. I can't wait for this game. Goodness me, what a story that would be. They're up against it. They've got to find their way, feel their way into this game. Da Costa, throw in there swiftly on Da Costa. Yeah, it's not the first time we've seen a couple of players do that. They sit back, absorb the pressure. We'll just wait for those little key moments, little triggering moments. The ball gets played in, it plays on us. Just very, very willing. It's Messi, first sighting of goal. Wasn't the best of angles. tried to make the most of it yeah just scuffed his shot a little bit didn't he i mean his movement was excellent and to messi challenged under the referee's nose free kick conceded the tackle from giovanni cabral messi takes it and rosinha with a comfortable gather and molina tried it on a plate and messi was almost messi well cavaverdi have made it through the opening quarter cavaverdi gonna have to absorb pressure as the first choice here at this world cup one of a number of players from Atletico Madrid and it comes to Lionel Messi his control is sensational messi and we would expect absolutely nothing less goal number 20 for the all-time leading scorer it's his seventh at the 2026 finals Argentina what a goal what a play from Argentina that moment of turning up the pace the directness of the ball superb ball over half an hour today and he's Lionel Messi's had all three of them he's a ray of passing at times is very Lisandro Martinez the shot's a quick one sharply saved down to his left by Boszynia to the head of Lisandro Martinez no save required blasted in by Cabral deflection stages in their debut since 19 picks his spot picks the run for Emi Martinez to deal with Yeah, is that about to change? It bounces off. And then a da Costa on the shot. Coming in from Droy Duarte. Saved by Emi Martinez. Low to his left. He does really, really well. Emi Martinez. Paul Moreira. This is Mendes. Infield, he goes. There's the equaliser. A sensation in Miami. To say it's a shock for most of the people inside the stadium would be an understatement. Ah, an excellent movement from Capo Verde. down his right hand side. Ryan Mendes. But here's Messi looking to restore Argentina's lead And Boszynia's denied him And if Boszynia stands big Messi, you would have all your money in the world on him Varese, here's Messi coming to life Chopped to the Just outside the penalty area Like if Messi's not going to take this Which he'd find highly unlikely Messi takes it By Bozina Argentina applying more pressure, they see Looks to try and tee it up Bozina's missed it all It's just past the post peak will be mighty relieved he was able to turn that wide of the post rather than inside enough good defensive work there from Pico Lopez and Paul and Lionel Messi and Gonzalez sends it across dine collected by McAllister okay as you can see he's not entirely in agreement with that Messi looks to be the provider here sees delivery pinpoint McAllister almost on the end of it they're claiming a handball they're all asking the referee to look at it as it goes out of play We are 30 seconds or so. Paraded. To be saved by Bozina. Yeah, that was a decent effort. Duarte, not once but twice. And Duarte fouls him just outside the box. Just as he did earlier in the half. nation of Cabo Verde holds its collective breath. As Messi has in the free kick. And Bozina gets enough on it. And it will be Cabo Verde's ball. Wow. That took a deflection on the way through. the senior's reaction is brilliant fighting little ball into the heart of the penalty area from Nah Uel Molina results in the first corner of extra time Pico Lopez And it comes right across the face of the goal danger still not clear Lisandro Martinez the second start of extra time What a finish unbelievable finish throw into Alvarez who finds Messi lovely little exchange and Alvarez still sniffing around. Striking the defender in the midriff Argentina going to have a corner here. Yeah, great little footwork on the edge of the box from Messi. And Alvarez, really good intricate pass Montero sending it across The ball for Emiliano Martínez Still having a reasonable share of the game, Cabo Verde. Despite falling behind once more Oh, the big Sydney load. Extraordinary. And it is not over yet What a goal there It's got to be one of the goals of the tournament he can't believe it himself what a strike Messi denied by Pogacar the first match against Algeria who must have thought Messi's flicking to McAllister free kick final calculations made it on its way Libramento chasing African opponents Nico Gonzalez big challenge it was Dine Borges Messi's delivery is a good one that's an excellent ball into that near post area really good time canvas back into the thick of it Chimor waits in the middle hopes the ball comes his way there's going to be a free kick here and there'll be a yellow card as well for that challenge Lopes Cabral he whips it in and brings the save from Emi Martinez he certainly fancied another one from that same sort of angle easy header away to run through the middle and can't quite steal time perhaps for a shot on goal