Messi powers Argentina at World Cup as Portugal eyes Spain showdown

Lionel Messi continued his record‑breaking run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring his 20th tournament goal, providing an assist and becoming the first player to appear in 30 World Cup matches. His contributions helped Argentina advance to the knockout stage, highlighted by a decisive 3‑2 win over Cabo Verde and a crucial assist from Lisandro Martínez.

Portugal, fresh from a victory over Croatia, prepared for their round‑of‑16 clash with Spain in Dallas. Cristiano Ronaldo, after netting his third goal of the tournament, said the upcoming match would be “very balanced” and that “we will be ready, we know them well.” Teammate Rafael Leão added that Portugal have players capable of making the difference and are intent on winning the tie.

Both teams are set to continue their World Cup campaigns in North America, with Argentina’s campaign centred on Messi’s performances and Portugal focusing on a high‑stakes encounter against a familiar European rival.