Messi Sustains Forehead Injury During World Cup Win Over Cape Verde
Lionel Messi suffered a significant forehead swelling during Argentina's intense 3-2 extra-time victory against Cape Verde on July 3, 2026, advancing his team to the World Cup round of 16. Messi scored the opening goal, marking his seventh in this tournament and 20th overall in World Cup history, and assisted the decisive own goal in the 111th minute. Despite the tough match, Messi praised his opponents in a post-game interview.
Argentine media reported that the forehead injury occurred in the 103rd minute when Messi was fouled and fell onto the knee of a Cape Verde player, causing visible pain and discomfort. He repeatedly touched his forehead until the end of the match, where the swelling was clearly noticeable. This injury is not expected to prevent Messi from playing in Argentina's upcoming round of 16 match against Egypt and Mohamed Salah, scheduled for Tuesday at 19:00 Israel time in Atlanta.
The incident highlights the physical challenges Messi faced en route to the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, but he remains a key figure for Argentina as they pursue the tournament title.
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