Messi's first cap turns 22 as Argentina prepare for Cabo Verde

Classic kit for the Cabo Verde clash

Argentina face Cabo Verde in the World Cup Round of 32, and FIFA has locked in the look. Your team will wear the classic white and sky-blue striped shirt with black shorts and white socks (1). Clean. Traditional. No surprises.

22 years since Messi's first Argentina cap

Twenty-two years ago today, a kid from Rosario pulled on the Argentina shirt for the first time. June 29, 2004, a friendly against Paraguay at Argentinos Juniors. Lionel Messi was 16. The rest needs no telling. He stands now on 16 World Cup goals, level with Klose. One more and the record is his alone.

Paredes celebrates birthday in World Cup camp

Leandro Paredes turned 32 in camp. Family flew in to Kansas City ahead of the Cabo Verde match. Cake, messages, a moment of calm before the knockout rounds begin (3).

Fan-reaktioner

Fans are buzzing over the Scaloni news. Reports that AFA and the manager reached a verbal agreement before the tournament to keep him until 2031 have supporters celebrating, though the consensus is that Scaloni's insistence on parking talks until after the World Cup is exactly the right call. Separately, a thread on 91-year-old Argentine journalist Enrique Macaya Márquez covering his 18th World Cup has fans in awe. Read the Scaloni discussion