Argentina faces surprise team Cape Verde in World Cup Round of 16 in Miami

Messi's second home

It is no coincidence that the match is taking place in Florida. Argentina deliberately chose Miami, according to sources close to the team. Three airlines connect the city nonstop from Buenos Aires, making the journey easier for tens of thousands of Argentine fans. In addition, Florida has no income tax, from which Messi – with his reputed annual salary of the equivalent of 50 million dollars – benefits in particular. For Major League Soccer (MLS), the superstar is, according to Commissioner Don Garber, "like rocket fuel" – Inter Miami's corporate value has more than doubled to over one billion dollars since Messi's arrival.

Despite the clear roles, Lionel Scaloni warns about the opponent. It is "pointless to claim they are not a tough opponent," said the Argentina head coach. Cape Verde had already made things "difficult" for Spain and fought out a 0-0 draw against a fellow favorite in the group stage. Assistant coach Humberto Bettencourt announced: "We will not change our way of playing, our identity because of the opponent." Coach Pedro Leitao Brito, known as Bubista, nevertheless believes in his team's chance: "Nothing is impossible anymore."

The stars of Cape Verde

At the center of attention is once again Messi himself. The 39-year-old captain appears to be in top form at this World Cup as well, as if he had preserved his peak from winter 2022. Six goals in the first three matches mark his best-ever World Cup start – in 2014 in Brazil it was "only" four goals in the group stage. "For many he is the greatest of all time," says none other than Bubista, whose team will face him on Saturday. In the US, he is simply called "GOAT" – Greatest Of All Time.

On Cape Verde's side, anticipation is enormous. Goalkeeper Vozinha, who became internationally known for his saves in the 0:0 against Spain, spoke before the tournament of a dream of playing against Messi. "Maybe many of you would have thought that Cape Verdean players weren't good enough," said the 40-year-old after the historic qualification for the knockout stage. His homeland is admittedly "small," "but we have big hearts, and we are fighters." Cape Verde's President José María Neves also got involved and pushed to present Messi with a national team jersey, "to honor him as one of the best players in the world."

A match of extremes

Messi himself, meanwhile, is enjoying the special atmosphere in his adopted home. The Argentine striker is said to have acquired a private waterfront property for a reputed price of more than ten million dollars. On Fox Sports, commercials featuring him run on a continuous loop; together with Christian Pulisic and Cristiano Ronaldo he promotes the official beer sponsor of the World Cup, and alongside Hollywood star Tom Holland he advertises a movie. "Messi brings us the greatest attention," said MLS Commissioner Garber – and that attention will reach its peak so far on Saturday in Miami.

On a purely sporting level, Argentina goes into the match as the clear favorite. Anything other than a victory for the Albiceleste would rank among the greatest upsets in the tournament's nearly 100-year history. Nevertheless, Vozinha announced ahead of the duel with a wink that he would like to get a jersey from Messi – and the captain himself delivered the fitting reply with a smile. "We were given a one percent chance of winning at the start of the World Cup; now maybe it's four percent," said Vozinha. The "Blue Sharks" of Cape Verde, as the national team is also known, want to stand up to the favorite for as long as possible.

Kickoff in Miami is on Saturday at 0:00 CEST. In Germany, Magenta will broadcast the match; in Austria, ServusTV and ORF 1. Should Argentina reach the next round, Messi's dream of a second World Cup title after Qatar 2022 would come within reach – fittingly in the place where his American chapter began.