Lionel Messi once again drew football fans from around the world, but he was not the only attraction at the Argentina vs Cape Verde match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Friday. As Argentina faced Cape Verde in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, several well-known personalities from football, music and entertainment were spotted in the stands.
More than 64,000 spectators packed the stadium to witness the knockout clash, with many celebrities making sure they did not miss the opportunity to watch the Argentine captain in action.
Pep Guardiola once summed up Messi’s greatness by saying, “Don’t write about him, don’t try to describe him, watch him.” That advice appeared to resonate with many famous faces in attendance.
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David Beckham attends with family
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham was among the biggest names present in Miami. Beckham, who played a key role in bringing Messi to Major League Soccer, watched the match from the stands in his adopted home city.
It was also a family outing for the Beckhams. Victoria Beckham joined her husband, while sons Brooklyn and Romeo were also in attendance. Brooklyn was accompanied by his wife Nicola Peltz, and Romeo was seen wearing Argentina colours.
Shakira returns to the World Cup stage
Colombian singer Shakira was another high-profile guest at the stadium. She has long been associated with the FIFA World Cup, having performed official tournament songs across multiple editions of the competition.
Her appearance added to the star-studded atmosphere surrounding one of the biggest knockout matches of the tournament.
Argentine legends in the stands
Former Argentina forwards Gabriel Batistuta and Mario Kempes were also present to support the defending champions.
Batistuta, who was once Argentina’s all-time leading scorer before Messi surpassed his record, watched another memorable performance from his successor. Kempes, meanwhile, remains the only Argentine to have won the World Cup Golden Boot.
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Simeone and IShowSpeed also spotted
Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone attended the match as his son Giuliano Simeone was part of Argentina’s squad.
📸 Diego Simeone is following Argentina v Cape Verde pic.twitter.com/KtLjsmBnEj
— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) July 3, 2026
Popular streamer IShowSpeed was also in the crowd. A vocal Cristiano Ronaldo supporter, he backed Cape Verde during the game. However, he and his brother Jamal were seen singing every word of the Argentina national anthem before kickoff, adding another talking point to an already memorable evening in Miami.
FAQs:
Which celebrities attended the Argentina vs Cape Verde match?
David Beckham, Shakira, Gabriel Batistuta, Mario Kempes, Diego Simeone and IShowSpeed were among those present.
Where was Argentina vs Cape Verde played?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match was played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
