Before the 2026 World Cup got under way, few would have predicted a Round-of-32 meeting between defending champions Argentina and debutants Cape Verde. Yet after the group stage, it has become one of the tournament’s most captivating ties.

The tournament’s smallest nation to make the knockout stage defied every prediction, drawing with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, completing one of the competition’s most remarkable fairytale runs.

The island nation off Africa’s west coast, largely unknown to many football fans before the tournament, have become one of the biggest stories. Now they will look to make their debut campaign even more memorable when they face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Miami on Saturday – a city the Argentine captain has called home for the past three years.

On paper, Argentina are overwhelming favourites despite never having faced Cape Verde. With either Australia or Egypt awaiting the winners in the Round of 16, talk has already turned to the holders’ potential route deep into the tournament.

Lionel Scaloni, however, is determined not to look beyond Cape Verde, whose fearless performances have shown they are capable of troubling any opponent.

A fascinating duel awaits as Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, with two clean sheets, faces Lionel Messi, whose six goals in three matches have made him the World Cup’s joint-leading scorer.

For Argentina, however, Vozinha is not their only concern. While they conceded just one goal during the group stage, their defence was rarely tested. Offensively, they scored in every match and found the net in each half of their opening three games. Yet apart from Messi’s six goals, Argentina’s remaining two came from Lautaro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso, both from set pieces, highlighting a lack of goals from other sources.

According to TyC Sports, Scaloni is expected to restore the side that beat Austria after rotating against Jordan. Nicolas Tagliafico could return at left-back, while Cristian Romero will partner Lisandro Martinez if fit; otherwise Nicolas Otamendi will continue.

Lautaro Martinez’s first World Cup goal against Jordan has strengthened his claim to start ahead of Julian Alvarez, whose recent form has dipped.

As always, though, the spotlight will fall on Messi. The Argentine captain is preparing for another knockout appearance in his sixth World Cup. If Argentina are to break down Vozinha and continue their title defence, they may once again need a moment of brilliance from their talisman against the world’s 64th-ranked side, who are unlikely to be an easy obstacle.

With Morocco already in the Round of 16 and DR Congo and Senegal earning admiration despite narrow exits, Cape Verde now carry the hopes of African football as they will believe another famous upset is within reach.

A shock defeat would bring an abrupt end to Messi’s World Cup journey – something neither he nor Argentina want as they pursue back-to-back world titles.

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