Argentina took a 1-0 lead into halftime against Cape Verde in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash in Miami, with Lionel Messi once again delivering on the biggest stage.
Although Argentina controlled possession from the opening stages, Cape Verde showed confidence and refused to simply sit back. The African side looked comfortable moving the ball and attempted to attack whenever space opened up, while Argentina patiently searched for a breakthrough.
Messi created the first major danger of the match, first dragging an effort narrowly wide before testing Vozinha with a free-kick from around 25 yards. Cape Verde also threatened on the counter through Ryan Mendes, but Emiliano Martínez remained largely untroubled.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 29th minute through another moment of Messi brilliance. Lisandro Martínez produced a superb long pass from deep, finding Messi’s run behind the defence. The Argentine captain controlled the ball beautifully before lifting a composed finish over goalkeeper Vozinha and into the roof of the net.
The goal was Messi’s seventh of the tournament, moving him to the top of the Golden Boot standings while also extending his remarkable streak to eight consecutive World Cup matches with a goal.
Argentina continued to push for a second before halftime. Lautaro Martínez set up Enzo Fernández for a long-range strike, but Vozinha reacted well to deny him with a low save.
Looking at the overall first-half picture, Argentina largely controlled the rhythm of the match through possession and territory, but Cape Verde remained disciplined and competitive. While Lionel Scaloni’s side carried the greater attacking threat, Cape Verde showed enough quality and confidence to suggest the contest was still alive heading into the second half.
