Beyond Argentina’s qualification, there was one detail that stole much of the conversation on social media.
At the end of the match, Lionel Messi appeared with a huge bump on his forehead, an image that quickly began circulating among fans, who wondered what had happened to the Argentine captain.
The theories did not take long to appear; some thought he had suffered a hard headbutt, others believed it was from being hit by the ball or even a muscular injury to the face.
The explanation was much simpler… and also quite painful.
During the final minutes of the match against Cape Verde, Messi received a hard accidental knee to the forehead while contesting a loose ball with an opponent. The impact was so strong that the area began to swell immediately, leaving a visible bruise.
Despite the blow, the Argentine did not ask to be substituted. He kept playing all 120 minutes of the match, used ice to reduce the swelling, and was one of the standout players in the Albiceleste’s qualification to the next round.
Images of the bump went around the world, and many highlighted the captain’s toughness, while others admitted that the blow “hurt just looking at it”.
Here is the moment: