Cape Verde step into the World Cup knockout stages as major underdogs against Argentina, yet Bubista insists the focus cannot rest on Lionel Messi alone. The head coach wants attention on Argentina’s collective strength, while Cape Verde look to extend an unbeaten run that has already made history at this 2026 tournament.
Messi enters the last-16 tie in Miami with six goals at this World Cup, level with Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race. Messi also has nine goal involvements across the last five World Cup knockout appearances, with five goals and four assists, and has scored in each of the most recent four.
The 36-year-old forward is chasing a rare record as well. Only Leonidas and Gyorgy Sarosi, both between 1934 and 1938, and Vava between 1958 and 1962, have scored in five straight World Cup knockout matches. If Messi scores again, the Argentina captain will join that small historical group.
Bubista accepts the danger but will not shape everything around Messi. The coach explained: “We as a team have our own strategy, not only against Messi, but the whole team. They are the current world champions and one of the best teams in the tournament. We will play against the whole team. We know Messi is one of the best players in the world, but we play against the whole team.”
When the tournament started, Cape Verde stood 63rd in the FIFA rankings. That made them the lowest-ranked country to reach the World Cup knockout stages on debut since rankings began in 1992. They are also the lowest-ranked side to move past the first phase since hosts Russia in 2018, who were 70th.
Cape Verde progressed despite not winning any of their three group games. They drew 0-0 with Spain, shared a 2-2 thriller with Uruguay, then finished with a 0-0 stalemate against Saudi Arabia. That made Cape Verde the first team since Chile in 1998 to advance from a World Cup group with three draws.
Defensively, Bubista’s side were also strong. Cape Verde allowed only two goals in those three matches, both against Uruguay. That is the best defensive record for a debutant nation at a World Cup since Angola also conceded just two goals at the 2006 tournament. Their discipline without the ball underlined a clear tactical plan.
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Bubista highlighted how teams with lower rankings have competed with established powers during this World Cup. "The so-called small teams have shown they can compete on the same playing level with the so-called superior teams," he said. "It goes to show that the small ones can also face up to the most challenging matches."
For Bubista, the meeting with Argentina must feel demanding for both sides. "Argentina will be challenging for us, but we want it to be challenging for them too. We are here on merit. In the last three matches, we have shown we can compete at a high level. We know the quality of our opponent, but we also have our dream."
The coach promised an ambitious approach against the world champions. "We will play with courage. We will be bold and fight for the qualification. We want the players to enjoy the match, but to be focused and do everything to go to the next phase. We believe in ourselves and our strengths, our players and our team. We know this will be a very difficult game, but we can hurt our opponent. We are brave and ambitious, and we will play to win."
Story first published: Friday, July 3, 2026, 14:47 [IST]
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