The atmosphere around the stadium in Miami had been building long before kick-off, with supporters lining the streets draped in sky blue and white, beating drums, singing songs and posing beneath giant Argentina flags. Inside, blue and white shirts dominated the stands, his number 10 visible almost everywhere. Flags draped over the railings, while one striking banner portrayed Lionel Messi alongside Diego Maradona as saint-like figures — reflecting the status supporters regard their greatest footballing icons.
“He’s our hero,” one Argentina fan said before kick-off. “He’s like our God.” “He has aged like fine wine,” another added. “The older he gets, the better he gets.”
“Messi scored his seventh World Cup goal as Argentina survived a scare to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time.”
Amid that fervour, Victoria Beckham proved she is still the ultimate WAG, joining husband David and sons Romeo and Cruz in Miami to watch Argentina take on Cape Verde on Friday night.
On the pitch, Cape Verde frustrated Argentina for long periods and played with a confidence that suggested little sign of the gap in the world rankings — Argentina ranked second in the world, Cape Verde sitting outside the top 60. Yet, as he has done so many times before, Messi still made his mark.
The holders survived a frantic night, twice giving up the lead before escaping with a 3-2 victory in extra time. Messi’s opener in the dramatic, extraordinary win was his 20th World Cup finals goal — extending the record he broke during the group phase in the United States. It was his seventh of this tournament.
The goal itself was a reminder that even when he appears subdued, he needs only one moment. Timing his run perfectly onto Lisandro Martinez’s pass, Messi took the ball in his stride with his first touch and then lifted it over Cape Verde’s keeper.
Commentating on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scotland forward James McFadden described the finish as “just incredible”. “The run he makes is beyond the backline and the timing is excellent,” McFadden said. “The weight of the pass into him…”
By Messi’s extraordinary standards, this was not his most influential performance. But his goal tally is now at seven, which would have made him the top scorer in five of the past six World Cups. Since 1978, there have been 13 world cups and his tally would have been enough to be top scorer in all but two.
Farewell Cape Verde — the underdogs the World Cup will never forget.