Argentina failed to win their opening match at each of the last two World Cups — drawing 1-1 with Iceland in 2018 and losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in 2022 — yet reached the final in both tournaments and won the title in 2022.
Argentina3–2Cape Verde
Stats
Lionel Messi enters the 2026 World Cup on 13 career World Cup goals, three behind Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16. Kylian Mbappé starts on 12 goals and needs four to equal the record.
Lionel Messi has scored in six of Argentina's last seven World Cup matches.
Argentina enter the 2026 World Cup unbeaten in their last six World Cup matches (4W-2D) and having scored in each of those games.
Argentina have won their last 7 international matches, going 7W-0D-0L with 21 goals scored and 1 conceded.
Match Events
29'Lionel Messi
1–0
1–1
59'Deroy Duarte
92'Lisandro Martínez
2–1
2–2
103'Sidny Lopes Cabral
111'Diney(OG)
3–2
Lineups
Argentina
Cape Verde
- 23Emiliano Martínez
- 6Lisandro Martínez↓63'
- 13Cristian Romero
- 25Facundo Medina↓86'
- 26Nahuel Molina↓104'
- 7Rodrigo De Paul↓84'
- 20Alexis Mac Allister
- 24Enzo Fernández
- 10Lionel Messi
- 16Thiago Almada↓64'
- 22Lautaro Martínez↓63'
- 1Vozinha
- 3Diney
- 4Roberto Lopes
- 13Sidny Lopes Cabral
- 22Steven Moreira
- 6Kevin Pina↓100'
- 7Jovane Cabral↓80'
- 14Deroy Duarte↓100'
- 15Laros Duarte↓67'
- 21Nuno da Costa↓67'
- 20Ryan Mendes↓80'
Substitutes
- 3Nicolás Tagliafico↑86'
- 4Gonzalo Montiel↑104'
- 5Leandro Paredes↑84'
- 15Nicolás González↑64'
- 9Julián Alvarez↑63'
- 10Jamiro Monteiro↑67'
- 16Yannick Semedo↑100'
- 17Willy Semedo↑80'
- 26Hélio Varela↑80'
- 9Gilson Benchimol↑100'
- 19Dailon Livramento↑67'