Lionel Messi took the lead, but Argentina were forced into extra time by Cape Verde, putting them on the brink of the biggest upset of the World Cup.
Published July 4, 2026
Reigning champions Argentina needed an extra-time own goal to defeat a Cape Verde side with an amazing level of resilience 3-2 in a thrilling match and secure a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The Africans, playing in their first World Cup, came back from two goals down on Friday to silence the majority of the 64,478 crowd packed into a hot and humid Miami Stadium.
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Six minutes into the second period of extra time, Lionel Messi swung a corner kick into the box, and Cristian Romero stood up and headed it into goal through the arms of Cape Verde centre-back Dini Borges, finally setting up a date with Egypt next Tuesday in Atlanta.
Messi almost inevitably gave Argentina the lead in the 29th minute with his seventh goal of the tournament, but Deroy Duarte equalized just before the end.
The Blue Sharks held out for another 30 minutes, but Argentina took the lead again in the second minute of the first period when Lisandro Martinez fired a spectacular shot into the roof of the net.
However, the game was not over for Cape Verde, and in the 103rd minute, left-back Sidney López Cabral fired a beautiful shot into the top corner of the goal, leveling the score at 2-2.
López Cabral could have equalized again after Romero’s goal, but his well-taken free-kick was saved by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who had to do his best to deny Cape Verde in the final minutes.
Although Cape Verde lost, they far from being defeated by the three-time world champions, they put in a great performance for the fourth time, showing teamwork and grit in their first World Cup.
Cape Verde, the only team to reach the last 32 of the first four World Cup participants and entering the tournament ranked 67th in the world, was hoping to frustrate Argentina, as they had done in drawing Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in the group stage.
They succeeded while showing no lack of quality of their own with a never-say-die attitude and a decent pass-and-move game for much of the game.
Messi aside, Argentina were largely out of ideas against a stubborn defence, with Cape Verdean libero Kevin Pina the most impressive player on the park for long stretches of the contest.
But Argentina made a breakthrough in the 29th minute when Lisandro Martinez fired a long ball over the defense and into the feet of Messi.
The 39-year-old maestro touched the outside of his left boot and buried it into the roof of Vosinha’s net, scoring his 20th goal in six innings in football’s world-class show.
Cape Verde knew they needed to score to stay in the World Cup, and Duarte had a shot on goal just after half-time, drawing a diving save from Martinez.
Just before the hour, captain Ryan Mendes was free on the right and played a pass into the box, where the Dutch-born midfielder controlled the ball with his left foot and flicked it past Martinez with his right.
Four minutes later, Messi had a chance to put Argentina back in the lead with a through ball on goal, but Bosinha stood firm and prevented the shot from going off target.
In the 72nd minute, one of Messi’s trademark free-kicks was deflected by Bosinha, and 10 minutes later Cape Verde defender Pico López had to intervene to prevent Enzo Fernandes from scoring.
Cape Verde held out in a dramatic extra time to bring home the hero who put the small island nation firmly on the football map.
