The 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico has entered the knockout stage, and Argentina is facing a match against Cape Verde. The island nation is among the tournament's biggest surprises, while the defending champions are led by Lionel Messi, who remained one of the tournament's central figures after the group stage. Le Monde ↗
Messi had already decided the match against Austria with two goals, as Argentina won 2:0, and their captain moved to the top of the World Cup's all-time scoring table. In the group match against Jordan, he came on only in the 60th minute, yet still scored. According to available data, he scored in his seventh consecutive World Cup match, and by day 18 of the tournament he had six goals. teraz.sk ↗
However, the race for the top scorer title is tightening. Kylian Mbappé scored two goals to help France to a 3:0 win over Sweden, and according to several sources he has drawn level with Messi in the scoring table. France advanced with a strong performance, and among the tournament's leading offensive figures are also Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗
In the Mexican part of the tournament, alongside the football itself, strong home euphoria continues. Mexico had already beaten Czechia 3:0 in the group stage, a match also tied to the farewell of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. At the same time, the championship is bringing logistical problems for fans, with one visitor describing how, after buying expensive tickets on the secondary market, he was left with his family outside the stadium gate. Further developments will determine whether Messi's Argentina can handle the pressure against the surprise team from Cape Verde, and whether Mbappé will continue in the scoring duel. idnes.cz ↗
Messi and Argentina face Cape Verde, Mbappé has caught up to him
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information in the original sources below.
Sources (34)
Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft: Mehr Messi-Magie? Argentiniens vorteilhafter WM-Pfad
Tagesspiegel
| 16:24 28.06.
Mbappé trifft doppelt: Das war die WM-Nacht: Franzosen weiter, Koeman hört auf
Tagesspiegel
| 05:02 01.07.
Poradie strelcov po 18. hracom dni: Na čele je stále Messi so 6 gólmi
teraz.sk
| 11:52 30.06.
Fußball-WM: Favoriten-Formcheck: Wer bei der WM schon auf Titelkurs ist
Tagesspiegel
| 09:36 28.06.
Großer Hype um kleine Ente: Merlín verzaubert Mexiko
Der Standard
| 10:30 01.07.
Mbappé jagt Messi: WM-Favorit Frankreich zerlegt Schweden gnadenlos
n-tv
| 00:58 01.07.
Nejen čtyři mušketýři. O Zlatou kopačku se na MS strhla bitva fotbalových titánů
zpravy.aktualne.cz
| 11:30 28.06.
Favoriten droht das Aus: Die K.o.-Runde steht: So geht es jetzt bei der Fußball-WM weiter
n-tv
| 10:48 28.06.
Best team, moments, matches and players of World Cup group stage
BBC News
| 10:07 28.06.
'I spent $6,000 on a World Cup trip but was left stranded at the gate'
BBC News
| 06:59 02.07.
"Das sind alles Haie": Perplexer Tuchel huldigt den "Blut witternden" Tormonstern
n-tv
| 04:21 02.07.
"Das sind alles Haie": Perplexer Tuchel schwärmt von den "Blut witternden" Tormonstern
n-tv
| 04:21 02.07.
Mbappé-Olise, los datos de una pareja que asusta al Mundial: "Sería imprudente decir que somos invencibles"
El Mundo
| 12:14 01.07.
Neporazitelní se necítíme, máme ale potřebné sebevědomí, říká po další jasné výhře Francie Gusto
irozhlas.cz
| 11:30 01.07.
Mbappé trifft doppelt: Das war die WM-Nacht: Franzosen weiter, Koeman hört auf
Die Zeit
| 05:00 01.07.
Jubel mit Trainer Deschamps: Frankreich lässt Schweden keine Chance
Der Standard
| 00:59 01.07.
Frankreich bei der WM: Der Superfavorit zeigt seine nächste Show
Sueddeutsche Zeitung
| 00:58 01.07.
Fußball-WM: Mbappé brilliert weiter: Frankreich-Show gegen Schweden
Tagesspiegel
| 00:54 01.07.
Defying logic - how Haaland could end up with 260 international goals
BBC News
| 23:18 30.06.
A magyar válogatott legalább tíz vb-résztvevőnél erősebb
Index.hu
| 14:44 30.06.
Ronaldo bol druhý najhorší Portugalec, Messimu stačilo 20 minút. Porovnali sme, ako hrali na záver skupiny
dennikn.sk
| 11:45 28.06.
How to win a World Cup penalty shootout
BBC News
| 11:38 28.06.
Harry Kane utolérte Kocsis Sándort a vb-k góllövőlistáján
HVG
| 09:32 28.06.
Messimu sa to nestalo 20 rokov, aj tak čaroval. Ako reagoval Ronaldo?
sme.sk
| 09:24 28.06.
Kvíz MS vo futbale: Kto bol majster, keď sa Messi narodil, a uhádnete mená dvoch Slovákov?
dennikn.sk
| 09:03 28.06.
Kap Verde gegen Argentinien: „Messi ist der Nächste“: Sensations-Team fordert Weltmeister
Tagesspiegel
| 08:44 02.07.
Mbappé dojal svět gestem k trenérovi, na Messiho nemyslí. Francouzská mašina děsí
zpravy.aktualne.cz
| 11:28 01.07.
France-Suède : en images, quand Didier Deschamps adoube Kylian Mbappé après son doublé
Le Figaro
| 01:26 01.07.
Fußball-WM: Mbappé brilliert weiter: Frankreich-Show gegen Schweden
Die Zeit
| 00:53 01.07.
WM-Superstar auf Abwegen: Neuer Spiderman-Film: Lionel Messi spielt in Werbeclip mit
Tagesspiegel
| 19:27 30.06.
Ján Markoš: Více dat znamená méně zážitků. Čekají nás životy, ve kterých se vůbec nic nestane?
respekt.cz
| 08:00 30.06.
Újra pályán a franciák, Mbappé megközelítené Messi rekordját, három meccset rendeznek a legjobb 32 között - Kövesse a világbajnokság legfontosabb eseményeit élő hírfolyamunkban!
Index.hu
| 06:03 30.06.
De Donald Trump à Lionel Messi, de l’ambiance contrastée aux pauses fraîcheur huées : que retenir de la première phase de la Coupe du monde 2026 ?
Le Monde
| 12:12 28.06.
Elárulta az argentin kapitány, Messi miért nem volt kezdő a Jordánia elleni meccsen
HVG
| 11:01 28.06.
🔥 You might also like
📰
Sports
Messi broke Klose's record, Mexico defeated Czechia
The 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico has another notable Messi entry. The Argentine captain added to his opening hat-trick against Algeria...
📰
Sports
Messi's Argentina faces a quarterfinal test against Switzerland
The 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico reaches the stage where defending champion Argentina faces a quarterfinal against Switzerland.
📰
Football
Ivory Coast advances to the knockout stage for the first time
The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered further group-stage decisions. Ivory Coast beat Curaçao 2:0 and advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in ...
© HotInfo
Geographic locations
From our newsroom original
All →
Trump signed law imposing new sanctions on Russia
Trump announced agreement with Denmark on Greenland's security
Amodei once again calls for slowing artificial intelligence development
Belgium investigates where millions for Brussels security went. MP claims some funded a Disneyland trip
Nexperia turns to India after split with China. The dispute that threatened Slovak carmakers last year has moved to the courts
Judge rules out prison for Magna founder Frank Stronach. Sentence for 1977 indecent assault to be delivered in December
Operation Giezi: police detain ten people. TV Markíza reports fraud worth over €20 million
What Europe is writing about: Fed raises rates for the first time since 2023, Trump threatens the EU over Canada, Hague convicts Thaçi
