Messi's record 20th World Cup goal helps Argentina survive Cabo Verde scare

Lionel Messi scored his 20th World Cup goal and contributed to all three goals as Argentina narrowly defeated Cabo Verde 3-2 in extra time to advance to the round of 16, where they will face Egypt. The defending champions struggled against the spirited African side, exposing a heavy reliance on their captain.

The match

Argentina took the lead through Messi in the 29th minute, but Cabo Verde equalized via Deroy Duarte early in the second half. Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina's lead in the 92nd minute, only for Sidny Lopes Cabral to level with a stunning strike in the 105th minute. The winner came in the 111th minute when a Cristian Romero header deflected off Diney Borges into the net. Manager Lionel Scaloni acknowledged the difficulty: "El partido estaba feo, se podía haber ido para el otro lado" Source: La Vanguardia.

Messi's records

Messi's goal was his 20th in World Cups, extending his all-time record, and he has now scored in eight consecutive World Cup appearances Source: ABC.es. However, a FIFA ruling changed a potential assist to an own goal, denying him a share of the all-time assists record Source: La Voz.

What's next

Argentina face Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta. Midfielder Leandro Paredes warned: "Egipto será una selección muy difícil" Source: Infobae. The team's "Messidependencia" remains a concern, with Messi scoring 7 of Argentina's 11 tournament goals Source: Diario Libre.

• Argentina have won all eight official matches against African opponents Source: El Caribe.
• Messi is tied with Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland as the tournament's top scorer with 7 goals Source: Infobae.