World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi’s Argentina gets easy opponents in round of 32

Legendary forward, Lionel Messi and his Argentine team, volition look tourney newcomers Cape Verde successful the Round of 32. Spain topped Group H.

The Blue Sharks secured 2nd spot successful their radical and situation La Albiceleste successful the adjacent circular of matches.

The lucifer volition instrumentality spot successful Miami, arsenic Lionel Scaloni’s squad continues their pursuit of a 2nd consecutive title. 

Argentina reached this signifier with their prima subordinate making past on the way.

Lionel Messi became the all-time starring scorer successful men’s shot history, netting 2 goals successful a 2-0 triumph implicit Austria to propel the champions into the past 32.

This brace followed his hat-trick connected the opening time against Algeria, placing him 2 goals up of Miroslav Klose and Kylian successful the all-time scoring records.

Messi besides became the 3rd player, joining Just Fontaine and Jairzinho, to people successful six consecutive matches erstwhile helium enactment Argentina successful beforehand against Austria. 

Argentina finished astatine the apical of Group J with a extremity quality of positive 5 earlier their last lucifer against Jordan.

Cape Verde has crafted 1 of the singular underdog narratives of the tournament. The debutants are the 3rd smallest federation by colonisation to scope this stage, yet they defied expectations to unafraid 2nd spot successful Group H, finishing down European champions Spain.

Notably, Cape Verde did not triumph an...