Defending champions Argentina
advanced to face Egypt after a 3-2 extra-time win over debutants Cape Verde,
the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage with just 600,000 people.
Messi opened scoring in the 29th
minute to become the outright top World Cup scorer across six editions,
matching his 2022 tournament total with seven goals in four 2026 starts.
Teammates like Rodrigo De Paul celebrated with pure joy, as celebrities including Shakira and the Beckham family watched the most-viewed match of the tournament.