04/07/2026 06:36 PM

Messi Left With Huge Bump On Forehead After Dramatic Cape Verde Win

MIAMI, July 4 (Bernama-dpa) -- Argentina superstar Lionel Messi left the thrilling match against Cape Verde on Friday with an unpleasent souvenir: a huge bump on his forehead, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The injury, which doesn't look serious, was caused by a collision with the opponent's knee after a tackle. Messi used an ice pack on the affected area but finished the match, which went into extra-time after a 1-1 draw.

Messi scored his seventh goal of the tournament to give Argentina the lead in the dramatic 3-2 win against underdogs Cape Verde. He also increased his record tally of goals at World Cups to 20.

Diney Borges' own goal gave Argentina the win in the 111th minute and the reigning champions will now face Switzerland in the last 16 on Tuesday.

“Honestly, we already knew this was going to be a very difficult match. It wasn't a coincidence that this team didn't lose to Spain or Uruguay,” the player said.

“Scoring the first goal was the hardest part, and we thought it would help us control the game and play with more calm, but the exact opposite happened.

“We lost possession at times, dropped a little too deep, and couldn't press them the way we wanted.

They took advantage of their strengths and found the equaliser. We knew this was always going to be a complicated game.”

After speaking to journalists in the mixed zone, Messi took some time to take pictures with several Cape Verde players who were waiting for him to finish his interviews.

-- BERNAMA-dpa

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