Lionel Messi scores vs Vozinha, sets another World Cup record

The Argentina star’s goal against Cape Verde strengthens his place in World Cup history.

It could only be Lionel Messi, who struck a brilliant goal this Friday against Vozinha in the Round of 32 clash between Argentina and Cape Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Argentine superstar opened the scoring in the 29th minute at Miami Stadium, beating Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha—one of the most popular figures of this World Cup.

After a superb switch of play from Lisandro Martínez, the Inter Miami forward received the ball inside the box after cutting in from the right, before finishing with his left foot. He then beat the goalkeeper—nicknamed “El Abuelo”—with the same foot, drilling a shot into the top corner at the near post on the left side.

It was his 20th World Cup goal, pulling him further ahead of Kylian Mbappé, his closest chaser on 18.

This was his seventh goal of the tournament, making him the first player to score seven or more goals in two different World Cups, having also reached the same tally in Qatar 2022.

While Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has ended his scoring drought in World Cup knockout matches, Messi remains the only player to have scored in five different knockout stages, all in consecutive editions.

This was also his first goal in the newly introduced Round of 32 stage. Previously, in Qatar 2022, he scored against Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and France—finding the net in the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.

It also marked his 30th World Cup appearance, well ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 25 and Germany’s Lothar Matthäus. He also moves beyond Miroslav Klose (24), as well as Paolo Maldini and Luka Modrić (23).