HomeFIFA World CupArgentina national team starting eleven vs. Cabo Verde, Lionel Messi
FIFA World Cup

Argentina national team starting eleven vs. Cabo Verde, Lionel Messi

Roy Nemer
By Roy Nemer
139

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni announced his starting eleven for the match against Cabo Verde and Lionel Messi starts.

The Argentina national team will play Cabo Verde and Lionel Messi starts the match. Here is the starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro, Medina; De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister, Almada; Messi and Lautaro Martínez

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139 Comments

  1. I’m dead serious, next game Paz should start. NOT Lautaro NOT Alvarez.

    I was being patient and faithful to Almada, but after today? I don’t wanna see him ever again playing in this WC.

    RB is dead, heck, even makeshift Palacios/Simeone might’ve done a better job today. Him and Simeone should play on the right against Egypt.

    Enzo and Macca, I was truly disappointed, what happened to these 2. No way in hell should we see that Enzo-Macca-RDP ever again in this competition. It might’ve worked 4 years ago but no more. NOTHING FROM THEM.

    Medina provides nothing in attack, not convincing either in defence. Same like Jordan, we conceded through our left on the 1st goal. 2nd goal was just pure class and slight defensive error for giving the space like that. Emi was caught napping and woke up at the end of the match.

    Pray for Messi, Licha, Cuti to remain fit until the end, because i genuinely don’t know where we’re going without them.

  2. I will say this loud and clear:

    I love Scaloni, but he CANNOT keep side-casting Nico Paz, Valentin Barco and Giuliano Simeone.

    Zero minutes for three of their most inform players in Europe this season. That is inexcusable.

  3. Guys some of us here just being pathetic. Would rather lose playing shit or win? We still progressed and still can improve

  4. Had a similar experience in the last world cup, Argentina suffers a lot before getting a victory. Play good draw or lose, play ugly and win. Barely made it till end. Lot of negative comments are understandable. Ill add some positive things, Messi continues to score, 2 players other than messi scored, Argentinacontinues to win. Park the bus teams are rather difficult, this is more psychological game rather than football. Cape verde was a respectable team. Other teams that follow are not going to be doing the same.

    • There not doing anything you make your own luck

      Argentina are self destructing even in group they were doing this

      This is Maradona Argentina vs Mexico EVERYONE COULD SEE the COMING GERMANY SLAUGHTER ACCEPT THE TEAM AND MANAGER

      • @lawress hall
        You can’t even spell or form a proper sentence. Why the hell are you commenting (or vomiting) all over this forum?

  5. Lautaro..kick him out…zero in big games..
    Enzo…Ask him to play as DM..he doesn’t like that…! Kick him out if he doesn’t…Mac Allister linking up very nicely with Messi..

    After the first match, I told here…Medina is weak defensively..its already showed again..speed and offensive is secondary there…make defense tight…

    Molina is Headless chicken now…I don’t know what hes doing…

    I would have subbed Enzo instead of De Paul..!

    • I kinda like Paredes in 5 and other two playing up? Macca playing defensive midfield takes our creativity since Messi ain’t young anymore. I was always against that

  6. Argentinas deep ball watching was shit I kicked out of 10 yr olds in kids football

    Why sit ball watching right back watching them shoot at you it’s plain bone idle lazzzzy

  7. You have to admit their two goal was phenomenal! It just one of those game where everything goes wrong. Left back scored a belter with right foot ! Only good thing we won and now back to drawing board

    • It wasn’t one of those games THATS THE ENTIRE POINT

      IT WAS ALLLLLLLL ARGENTINAS FAULT BACK TO OLD IMMATURE SCARED HABBITS

        • They won’t have to do anything but say Boo are team will shit and debu will faint

          The goal keeping and ball watching was childish and unacceptable FOR A SUNDAY LEAGUE SIDE OF DADS

          LET ALINE THE CHAMPIONS

  8. I mean one thing i dont understand is why the CPV players and fans are crying. They were not at all expected to win at all.

    It should be the Argentina fans, us and players who should be crying. Seeing us struggle against a team like CPV.

  9. The only good thing is that Egypt also played full 120 minutes so in rest period time we are mostly equal

  10. 1) Emiliano Martinez =ok
    2) lisandro Martinez =Best player
    3) Christian Romero = ok
    4) Christian Medina = Average
    5) Molina = Disaster ( totally out of form)
    6) De Paul = Average
    7) Alexis Maclester = ok
    8) Enzo fernandez = Disaster ( totally out of form)
    9) lautaro Martinez = Disaster
    10) lionel messi = ok
    11) Almada = Disaster
    12) Parades = Good
    13) Nico Gonzalez = ok
    14) Montiel = Average
    15) lionel Scaloni = Disaster

  11. With this kind of defence where Medina gets nutmegged, McAllister gets so easily dribbled past and with such poor strategy of substitution in this heat, I think Egypt would just walk all over us. What was Scaloni thinking when he still had McAllister in the pitch when he visibly looked out of breath. It was the worst defending since the 0-2 defeat against Uruguay. Disastrous. Medina is super slow, he freezes, Montiel is slow, gives away dangerous free-kicks. Simply horrible. Cape Verde was quite poor in their techniques and execution. Even their defence looked shaky and almost scored two self-goals. Still they got two past us. I feel a chill down my spine when I think what would a France or Spain do with this Argentina.
    I pray this is a wake up call. Else, we would not progress any further. Shocking fall from grace of our haloed defence. Hope Tagliafico is in the starting line up in the next match.

    • Mac Allister was dribbled past in second goal..its a world class goal..what was Molina doing..ball watching? Man hes the RB..not Mac Allister..ask him to guard the flank or get out..

  13. Messi in the disabled toilet whilst his mates bar fight

    Next idiot here to compare to maradona is getting a beating

  14. Plz Scolani go away after the world cup….
    No tactics just give the ball Messi
    Could’t find wingback last few years ,

    Could’t find attacking midfielders who can hit the net,
    Couldn’t find wingers
    What he find
    Montiel Medina Almada shit!!
    & Tactics is pass the ball Messi
    Only Messi have licenses to hit the post…
    we are lucky that’s why still play round of 16…
    Fuck fuck fuck
    Totally disappointed

  15. Lionel Scaloni needs to go back to the drawing board. Some of these players were lazy not pressing. Talking about midfielders Enzo and Macalister, one of them needs to be dropped in the next match.

  16. A part timer who works in a office advising mortgages

    Out played every Argentina layer that’s is disgusting didgracful childish SCARED LAZY

    Messi is no captain hiding in the lady’s toilet during a fight

    No maradona

  17. Man this team has taken atleast 10 years of me, Realistically if we play like this we dont have a chance to win it. Infact we dont deserve to win the WC. Whats shocking is there is no urgency to score even when under tremendous pressure…Do we expect to beat, Brazil, England, France, Spain hell even Colombia or Ghana. I am even scared of Egypt now. Scaloni has to entirely schuffle the lineup to bring some more urgency to this WC team. Need to do something… Any way a win is a win we somehow keep on marching. Even by winning playong ugly.

    • We just don’t have pace on the front line. Alvarez in 2022 could run past ppl but the injury he got after Arsenal in the UCL this season seems to have nerfed him. He looks sluggish running with the ball.

      I don’t really rate him like that but we need Giuliano Simeone playing

  18. Yeah, we really didn’t need Giay lol. And next game let’s play it in the desert at 127 degrees midday. That’ll make for good football

  19. LAZIEST SHIT IV SEEN IN FOOTBALL HISTRY

    ENZO UDLESS MCALISYER USSLESS DEBU USLESS

    NEDIBA COURSED ALL THE EARLY PROBLEMS

    NO ATTACK NO PLAY MAKING USLESS GOALKEEPER. WE WERE OUT POAYED BY A PART TIME MORGAGE ADVISER

  21. You run this awful lineup of old legs against Egypt and you aren’t even beating them let alone Columbia, England, France, or Spain. And for Gods sake why is Lautaro out there if you are basically playing with three defensive midfielders?

    • Only Messi is old in this lineup? I really don’t get that impression yet ! Yea the performance not good at all but saying old is different

    • This is the point brother..
      3 midfielders, all of them R defensive minded
      Just look France
      They showed the earth
      What is the meaning of attacking football…
      Even Brazil play far better than us
      Obviously they have a masters who don’t care emotional
      & We havea groups of friends go to picnic no urgency no win mentality

  22. I hope this was the wake up call for the management like the 2022 game against Saudi was.

    Meaningful changes are needed.

  23. Faint……. We are Argentina, remember? We don’t win World Cup knockout games without the drama. OMG… Just like vs Saudi, (ah yes, thanks Mmh007, vs Australia), vs Netherlands, hope this will be the kick in the butt the team needs for the rest of the games! Vamos Argentina!!!

  24. I don’t even recognise my team and hopefully this is the fucking wake up call. I always knew this round will be tough but i thought opponent will be Uruguay not Cabo whatever ffs

      • Yet it will go mate . Last World Cup wasn’t like honeymoon or something. I glad we suffered and let’s move on and see next game

    • We need wingers in this squad asap. We’re too pedestrian relying on a centre back covering in at left back and Atletico Madrid Molina for width

  25. Omg inwas fighting against french and brazilian fans that argentina can defend against them 😂

  27. Hi guys, making my Mundo debut at a very precarious time I know. Been a long time reader since the 2018 World Cup. Would come on here religiously to see what Mamoun Elpipita, Cox, EnganChe, Dadir and the like would have to say back in the day.

    Haven’t missed a game SINCE the 2018 World Cup. What I will say, because I know this is not the best time to be leaving comments complaining about Scaloni until the full time whistle; however I have been sceptical with how we’ve approached the last 4 years in preparation for this World Cup. It felt like every year our intensity would drop, we’d be slower at winning the ball back after losing possession and we’d also make too many sloppy passes. I would write elsewhere about how we would always give the ball away and how better teams would punish us and we’re seeing something along those lines today against Cape Verde. Too many sloppy passes. I’ve BEEN saying that how Scaloni has gone about revamping this team has felt like Joachim Low 2018 all over again. The caveat is that these young players haven’t stepped up in their careers. Equi Fernandez going to Saudi Arabia is a big one. The refusal to try out Alan Varela. I could go on.

    The other big thing I’ve not liked is how we’ve failed to incorporate wingers into our team and our reliance upon the old guard. We always read about how we have a golden generation of youth talent coming through but none of them managed to break through and none of them were wingers. Garnacho never impressed Scaloni or us tbf but he was the only one with pace and signs of a passing range. Prestianni too slow and more of a creative type rather than a runner. Simeone I’ve only seen beat a full back 1v1 once in three years – incredible defensive winger, but not great at his main job.

    The biggest slap in the face was that 3 MONTHS BEFORE the tournament started was when Scaloni decided to tell the players “the honeymoon is over and that we need to be in peak form for the World Cup” where was this energy 1 year before??

  30. Can’t belive Scaloni not using Paz or Barco even Simeone would propably defend better than Molina, hence Palacios did it against Jordan!

    • Molina can’t defend and he can’t attack too.May be it is time to bring in simeone and palacios.

  31. Why they givrn so much free space at both wings even afterneach goal. Its remains same our wingbacks have nothing to. Do offencive at least have some tackles

  32. Scaloni’s inability to make good substitution continues to astonish. Paredes? Montiel?! Really??? Especially after the performances of Lo Celso and Someone in the last game?

    This is madness. The man has no plan b.

  33. This version of Argentina isn’t winning anything even if they pull some miracle today.

  34. Whatever the scoreline says later, it won’t change what we all saw out there today. We didn’t deserve to win this match. Not because the other side outclassed us, but because we never showed up as a team. No rhythm, no fight, no identity. You can’t claim to be champions and then play like you’re the one chasing the game from minute one.

    We can blame tactics, fitness, or luck…but at some point, it’s just about pride. And today, we played without it. If we somehow scrape through, it’ll be a result that masks the reality, not one that reflects it. A champion doesn’t just win…they impose themselves. We did neither. We got exactly what we put in, and today, that was nothing.

    • What else do you expect from a team of friends and a coward coach. I said long ago that this team is finished.

    • 100 percent on point. When you play players because of heirarchy instead of merit this is the shit you get. No Nico Paz, No Barco, no Simeone….if you aren’t seeing what the casual fan is seeing you no longer manage the team or your judgement is biased.

  35. This is the laziest defense I’ve seen. They have no defense. Midfield is asleep. And zero intensity. Nice job giys

  38. Pathetic Defending ! Why Argentina Inviting Cabo Verde again like they not learned anything!

  41. I said this shit last week after Jordan and people told me to relax and that I am raising problems that don’t exist. Almada, MacAllister, Medina, Lautaro should not start. They all are out of form. Lautaro can’t even get a damn ball. And these dead ass players refuse to run. This is no power house we are playing. They’ll get dog walked against a good team. Too many fucking asados and partying

  43. Sorry, but whatever mythical “system” blind supporters of Scaloni keep talking about, is NOT working. A top level opponent would tear this “system” apart.

    Doing the same things again and again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

    Win or lose, this game was an awful strategic failure.

  44. Can’t believe wtf I am seeing! This is exactly what I was worried for! We needed a second goal but moment of lack of concentration from Medina cost us game . Can’t believe ffs

  45. Only good thing about this game going into extra time is we get 3 more subs! But the reason we conceded the goal is we dropped deep to invite Cape Varde get closer to our goal so we could hit them on counters but somehow almost every one kept losing possession by clearing the ball right into their feet. This goal keeper is very good and it could take something special to beat them. Playing against defensively organized team in knockouts who have nothing to lose is very difficult and its showing!

  46. Siempre tenemos que sufrir.
    It’s nerve wracking, but that last World Cup was like this. Nail biting and sometimes rough. But I have faith en los muchachos.

  47. i guess we ate too much steak lol. cabo verde are playing complete park the bus, we need to send in more crosses, cutting through the middle is useless.

  48. We have no idea how to get back to this game.. Pardees at least tried a long ranger

    Only one man can win us this game EMI MARTINES

  50. OMG! This getting way too nervous now! Both have 2 subs left….the rest of team needs to WAKE UP NOW!

  52. Scaloni is a clueless Manager. He is costing us big time with all starting all the bench players in the important game.

  55. Starting Almada was a huge mistake. 60mins of nothing ! Hopefully it doesn’t bite us in our a$$. Lack of urgency, mispasses and unable to properly clear the ball is worrying!

  58. Got a bad feeling about today. Need some urgency. The match should not go to extra time or tie breaker.

  59. Just before that goal again de paul was in nice postion but nobody wanted tk shoot like spain
    Then too much miss passes from own half including messi

  60. I’m no tactician, and I’ll admit that upfront. But even from a fan’s perspective, what I’m seeing on the pitch is worrying. We’re not just struggling…we’re stagnant. There’s no sharp passing between the lines, no overlapping runs from the fullbacks to stretch the defense, and no sense of urgency when we lose the ball. It feels like we’re playing in slow motion while everyone else is sprinting.

    Now, I respect Scaloni…he got us the trophy, and that buys trust. But I genuinely don’t understand his approach right now. If the plan is to conserve energy and control possession, we’re failing at both…because we’re not keeping the ball in dangerous areas, and we’re not pressing when we lose it. If the plan is to let Messi drift and create, there’s no one making supporting runs to give him options. He’s isolated, and we’re predictable.

    Here’s the logical worry: in a knockout tournament, you don’t get a second chance to fix your shape or find your rhythm. What worked in 2022 won’t automatically work in 2026…teams have studied us, adapted, and we look like we haven’t evolved. We have the individual quality to beat anyone on paper. But football isn’t played on paper. It’s played with movement, intensity, and coherence. Right now, I see none of those three. And that’s not panic…that’s pattern recognition.

    • Scaloni has no Plan B. In 2022, Argentina faced the same problem against Saudis, France and Netherlands.

  61. Knew just a matter of time Medina bubble will burst… Tagliafico never doing this silly defending.

  62. It was stupid for team to allow Cape Verde to press. Midfielders are lazy. Scaloni needs urgent subs . Almada and Lautaro are liability

  65. Messi is doing harder carry job than maradona 86 lol. Stats dont lie. All our attacking players are completely off. Also I don’t understand this extremely safe risk free football. Like Argentina is afraid to play free flowing football. They won’t make through ball, line breaking pass and take on defenders. Its extremely safe and pragmatic.

  66. It is a pity, that we only Molina and Montiel for RB…..so far Molina has looked lost…. Medina had good group games and Tagliafigo even getting old has played better, than Molina in this WC….Good to see Cuti back in the starting 11 and LICHA could easily play as midfielder with a such a good vision and amazing passing….i think we need try someone else instead of MAC….maybe Barco, Paredes could come in for Almada and Mac, though i’m more worried about Molina’s form…., but i do understand also the weather conditions…., but something with Molina play ain’t right….hopefully he improves….

  67. 1. What’s the role of Molina? No surging runs, no crosses. All he does is stands near the line and passes the ball back.
    2. Did the team decide that Messi should be the only scorer? Nobody else even tries to shoot. They move forward; looks for Messi; if Messi is surrounded, pass the ball back. Way too many back and side passes. This might be a big problem down the road against better teams.

    • Yaa its shocking nobody else is shooting especially the likes of almada and depaul who used to score from outside the box regularly

  68. Need Almada to be replaced quickly by someone who can keep the left active. His and Medina’s combination is not working at all. It is sweltering heat. We need fresh legs pretty soon in the second half. They are going to press more in the starting minutes. We need to keep our calm. Someone quicker and abler than Almada like Barco or Alvarez would be needed.

    • We don’t need at the moment. Nico gonna come later with Alvarez later to harass this tired defender. We need another goal ASAP then sub Messi and keep him fresh

  69. Guys read the room! We can play quick eye catching football in that heat then lose ball get counter or keep the ball play slowly catch them off guard. There is no need to risk and lose the ball when the opponent wants it . Their game is just counter so no ball to them no counter however I agree with some of us our left side needed a better winger 😭😭. Unfortunately we don’t have one so we have to play with Almada who ain’t winger but he plays more like an extra 10 in the left.

    • I think it’s kind of genius for Scaloni to use Messi in the regular striker/tap-in position. He’s been a false 9 and a midfielder before. It’s super smart to use his amazing first touch and his ability to get in between lines to get so many goals.

  70. I have kept my faith and patience in Almada so far, but man, this ain’t it. The left side needs more football. It’s offering nothing. Almada isn’t a winger, and he offers no width. It would probably be better to bring on Lo Celso on the left wing.

    • I think this short pass systems not suiting his goal scoring skills, in MLS he used to score winders from outside the box
      No idea why almada and de paul not doing that these days especially with national teams
      Scaloni needs to give them freedom to shoot both good at long rangers

  71. VAMOS! ⚽️ ARGENTINA🇦🇷🙌🇦🇷 Great pass, what a move and amazing control with such a incredible finish! VAMOS! MESSI 🇦🇷 VAMOS ARGENTINA 🇦🇷✨🇦🇷

  72. Wow what a ball
    Was that martinez before the break also give moline a beautiful long ball??

  76. Lautaro looks so slow, lethargic with the ball. If he dont score goals. Its like 1 man down. I am sorry. Horrible to watch him so far. He also doesn’t press enough. Bring alvarez in. He atleast offer something with the ball and offer better pressing.

  77. Why not passing to the wings when theybare free
    And why back pass in counter attack and beside the box also😱

  78. Alvarez was definitely needed in the starting XI. In his absence, Almada needs to play the pressing game.

  81. We are the defending champions. That’s not a badge of honor…it’s a target on our backs and a standard we chose to carry. We didn’t come here to survive. We came to dominate. If we don’t reach that final, there’s no one to blame but the man in the mirror. No referee, no lucky bounce, no exhaustion. Just us. We’ve beaten the best before…we know what it takes. Now we either prove we still have that hunger, or we go home knowing we let ourselves down. The trophy doesn’t defend itself. We do. Vamos 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇳🇵

  82. Another match with Messi and insallah algeria and austria proved how strong they were by loosing 2-0 to swiss and 3-0 to Spain and if I’m not wrong our midfield struggled against them to control.

  83. Another bogus starting 11 again mcallister and almada?? Come on scaloni don’t bottle this wc title like all other countries did previously playing old off form players.

  84. We will be fine fellas. We’ve been here before, this team will just park the bus on us and Argentina and France are the only teams that can break the lower block. I just hope for a few things:

    Lautaro finds some confidence in this game, and Alvarez also when he comes in.

    Enzo and McCallister find a way to be in their 2022 rhythm.

    We get good playing time from Lo Celso Barco and Paredes.

    If we keep winning the only team we should be extremely worried about is Colombia

  85. Somebody from Miami please update us that there is a possibility that the match might be postponed due to heavy storm surge at the moment??

  86. It’s the same starting as the first two games. Hopefully they can find the cracks and make use of the space being created. Defense will be solid!!

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