Messi Admits Argentina Were "Disorganised" Despite Escaping Cape Verde Scare to Reach Last 16

Lionel Messi has openly criticised Argentina's display after the defending FIFA World Cup champions survived a determined challenge from Cape Verde to secure a 3-2 extra-time victory and book their place in the Round of 16.

The hard-fought win in Miami ensured Argentina's campaign remained alive, but the result exposed several weaknesses that the captain believes must be addressed before the competition becomes even more demanding.

Speaking after the match, Messi admitted the team was far from its best and struggled to impose its usual style of play against an organised and disciplined Cape Verde side.

"This team has shown for a long time that it never stops fighting until the very end," Messi said after the final whistle. "One positive was that we managed to score from a set piece, something we hadn't been doing well recently. In matches like this, those moments can make the difference."
 

The Argentine captain highlighted the importance of dead-ball situations, noting that the squad possesses several players capable of dominating in aerial duels.

"We have strong players who are excellent in the air, and today we took advantage of that. We have spent a long time working on attacking and defending set pieces because they are often decisive in tournaments of this level," he added.

Despite progressing to the next stage, Messi did not hide his disappointment with Argentina's overall performance. He pointed to the team's ineffective pressing structure and poor positioning, which allowed Cape Verde to control phases of the game despite enjoying less possession.

"We couldn't press properly," Messi admitted. "There was too much distance between our lines. Our centre-backs often had to cover large spaces when trying to step forward, and we weren't coordinated enough."

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also described Argentina's display as lacking cohesion throughout much of the contest.

"We were out of rhythm and disorganised. They constantly had an extra player available because we couldn't match them properly. Even without keeping the ball for long periods, they made us run because our pressing simply wasn't effective."

Messi reserved special praise for Cape Verde, insisting their performance was no surprise considering their recent results against several established football nations.
 

"We knew it would be a very difficult match," he said. "There is a reason they have avoided defeat against teams like Spain and Uruguay. We scored first, which is usually the hardest part, and we thought we would then control the game. Instead, the opposite happened."

Argentina gradually lost control of possession and allowed Cape Verde back into the contest, forcing the match into extra time before eventually sealing qualification.

Messi believes the encounter demonstrated just how competitive the 2026 World Cup has become.

"This tournament doesn't allow any team to relax," he explained. "Sometimes people judge opponents by reputation or ranking, but we knew Cape Verde would be extremely difficult to beat. The quality gap between teams is much smaller now, and every match demands maximum concentration."

Looking ahead, the Argentine skipper stressed that the team must quickly recover while correcting the mistakes exposed during the victory.

"The most important thing now is to rest, prepare for the next challenge and keep the positive aspects of our performance. At the same time, we have to correct the many mistakes we made today because stronger opponents will punish us."

Messi once again played a decisive role in Argentina's victory. The 39-year-old opened the scoring to register his 20th FIFA World Cup goal, provided the assist for Lisandro Martínez's strike, and delivered the cross that ultimately resulted in the decisive own goal which secured Argentina's dramatic win.

Although the reigning champions advanced, their performance served as a reminder that defending the World Cup title will require significant improvement in the knockout rounds.

Argentina will now shift their focus to Tuesday's Round of 16 encounter against Egypt in Atlanta, where Lionel Scaloni's side will look to deliver a far more convincing display as they continue their pursuit of another World Cup crown.