Lionel Messi scored again. Making Friday’s contest against Cape Verde the record-extending eighth consecutive World Cup match in which Argentina’s captain delivered at least one goal, according to ESPN. Messi’s goal in the 29th minute was the 20th of his World Cup career, extending his record and moving him two ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé on the all-time list. It was the opener of what became a wild night, with Argentina escaping with a 3-2 win in extra time against a huge underdog.

Messi leads Golden Boot race

Messi has seven goals in this World Cup — one more than Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the tournament, according to The Palm Beach Post. He also has scored 12 times in his last eight World Cup matches. Messi is once again alone in the race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup, having added to his stellar World Cup against Cape Verde by scoring a goal in the 29th minute of the Round of 32 matchup on Friday, July 3 at Hard Rock Stadium.

Argentina’s lineups and strategic changes

Argentina’s lineup included Emiliano Martínez in goal and Exequiel Palacios in midfield, as reported by FotMob. Manager Lionel Scaloni made nine changes to the side that beat Austria 2-0, including starting Exequiel Palacios, Nicolas Tagliafico, Nico Paz, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, and Giovani Lo Celso. Lo Celso scored on his World Cup debut with a direct free-kick, becoming only the second Argentine player to do so in the 21st century, following Messi against Nigeria in 2014.

Scaloni expressed satisfaction with the performance of his second-string side, stating that they all proved he can rely on them should they be called upon later in the tournament. “It’s a very positive opinion that I have, especially as I was able to include all the players,” Scaloni said — he also noted that Messi doesn’t dwell on statistics, stating, “The only word that comes to mind is that I’m surprised.”

Argentina advances, Messi remains focused

With Messi’s goal. Argentina secured early advancement to the Round of 32, taking a step towards back-to-back championships, according to KBS News, though Messi, when asked about his age and focus, said, “To be honest, I don’t care about my age. I just focus on maintaining good form and giving 100% in every match.”

Argentina’s win over Cape Verde was a dramatic one, with the match going to extra time before a 3-2 final score. Messi’s goal in the 29th minute was followed by a strong defensive effort and late scoring from both sides. The victory marked another milestone in Messi’s career, as he continues to lead the Golden Boot race and extend his record as the top scorer in World Cup history.