Argentina face Cape Verde in the World Cup round of 32 at 11:00pm (UK time) on Friday, with Lionel Scaloni’s side aiming to continue their bid to lift the trophy again.
We’ve picked out the best Argentina vs Cape Verde bet builder tips for the knockout clash, including our favourite player picks, goalscorer selections and value betting angles ahead of kick-off.
Back Lionel Messi to score first
Lionel Messi has once again led Argentina from the front at World Cup 2026. The Inter Miami captain has scored six goals in three appearances, including a hat-trick against Algeria, and has already opened the scoring twice during the tournament.
With Kylian Mbappe now level with him in the Golden Boot race, Messi will have extra motivation to make another decisive contribution. Argentina will look to their captain to set the tone once again, making Messi to score the first goal an appealing betting angle.
Scaloni’s men can shut out Cape Verde
Argentina have carried their momentum into the knockout rounds after an excellent group-stage campaign. Lionel Scaloni’s side beat Algeria and Austria without conceding before rounding off the group with a convincing 3-1 victory over Jordan, once again showing the balance between their attack and defence.
Cape Verde deserve enormous credit for reaching this stage, but this represents a significant step up in quality. Argentina have kept clean sheets in seven of their last nine victories and rarely allow opponents clear opportunities, making them strong favourites to progress with another controlled performance.
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