Messi’s magic keeps Argentina alive as Canada chase history in Los Angeles

Lionel Messi extended his World Cup goal record with a late free kick as Argentina reached the knockout stage with a perfect group-stage record. The Inter Miami forward’s 19th World Cup goal sealed a 3-1 win over Nigeria, keeping his side unbeaten and top of Group J. Lionel Scaloni’s side will now face Cape Verde in the round of 32, with Messi already on six goals in the tournament. At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the knockout stage prepares to host a historic first-ever meeting between South Africa and Canada. Bafana Bafana secured their place with a 1-0 victory over South Korea, marking their first-ever World Cup knockout appearance. Hugo Broos, 74, will become the oldest manager to oversee a World Cup knockout match. Canada’s path to the round of 32 has been less straightforward. A 2-1 defeat to Switzerland ended their ten-game unbeaten run, and Jesse Marsch now faces a race against time to confirm Alphonso Davies’ availability for the clash with South Africa. The Canucks have lost both competitive meetings against African opponents, including a 2-0 friendly defeat to South Africa nearly 20 years ago.

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South Africa arrive in Los Angeles with a defensive focus after failing to score more than once in their last eight matches. Their 2-0 loss to Mexico in the group stage highlighted a lack of firepower, though their resilience has kept them in the tournament. Messi’s latest World Cup moment came after he was introduced as a substitute in the 60th minute. The 37-year-old’s 80th-minute free kick restored Argentina’s two-goal cushion, capping a dominant group-stage display. Scaloni’s decision to rest him against Nigeria paid off, with the Albiceleste finishing as one of only three teams with a perfect record at the tournament. Canada’s challenge is twofold: overcome their African hoodoo and rediscover the form that saw them reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Their ten-game unbeaten run before the Switzerland defeat suggested they could be contenders, but the knockout stage demands consistency.

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Hugo Broos has overseen a resurgence for South Africa, who bounced back from a two-game winless start to top Group A. Their solitary goal in the group stage came against France, a match they lost 2-1, yet their defensive organization has kept them in contention. Jesse Marsch’s concerns over Alphonso Davies’ fitness add another layer of uncertainty for Canada. The Bayern Munich left-back has been a key figure in their rise, and his availability could decide whether they can end their African hoodoo in Los Angeles.