Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time to advance in World Cup
Reigning champions Argentina avoided a massive upset in Miami, overcoming a resilient Cape Verde side in a dramatic 120-minute encounter.
Reigning champions Argentina avoided one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history on Friday, July 3, 2026, defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in a dramatic extra-time encounter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The victory allows the South American side to maintain its title defense, though the match exposed vulnerabilities against a resilient debutant opponent from West Africa.
The contest was played in suffocating heat and humidity before a sellout crowd of 64,478, many of whom were Argentina supporters. Despite dominating possession 65 percent to 35 percent and recording 20 shots compared to Cape Verde's nine, Argentina were pushed to the absolute limit. Argentina recorded 13 attempts inside the box, while Cape Verde managed three shots on goal.
Media additions
Cape Verde, the smallest nation to ever reach the knockout stage, entered the match ranked 67th in the world, though some sources cited them as 64th. The West African side had already secured group-stage draws against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, remaining undefeated in 90 minutes throughout their tournament debut.
A Seesaw Battle for Survival
Argentina appeared to be cruising toward a comfortable win when Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute. After a long ball from Lisandro Martinez, Messi took a deft touch with the outside of his left boot and fired the ball into the roof of the net. The goal was Messi's seventh of the tournament and the 20th of his career across six World Cup editions.
The strike extended Messi's scoring streak to eight consecutive World Cup matches.
Cape Verde did not fold. In the 59th minute, captain Ryan Mendes provided a pass to Dutch-born midfielder Deroy Duarte, who controlled the ball and drilled it past Emiliano Martinez to equalize. According to some reports, Duarte's shot passed through the legs of defender Martinez to find the far post.
The match remained locked at 1-1 through regulation time, largely thanks to the performance of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. Reports from Yahoo Canada and The Miami Herald credit him with eight saves.
Extra Time Drama
The tension escalated during the additional 30 minutes. In the second minute of the first period of extra time, Lisandro Martinez scored a powerful finish into the roof of the net to put Argentina ahead 2-1. Some accounts note he latched onto a flick from Alexis Mac Allister following a corner kick.
The lead was short-lived. In the 103rd minute, Cape Verde left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a curling strike into the top corner from a wide angle to level the match at 2-2. The New York Times described the strike as a goal-of-the-tournament contender
.
The stalemate finally broke in the 111th minute. Messi delivered a corner kick that found Cristian Romero; Romero's header deflected off the arm of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and went into the net. While initially credited to Romero, the goal was officially recorded as an own goal by Borges.
Cape Verde nearly forced a third equalizer in the dying minutes when a finely struck free kick from Lopes Cabral was saved by Emiliano Martinez.
Perspectives and Aftermath
Following the match, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni praised the character
of his players and the quality of the opposition.
"I’d like to congratulate our opponents; the truth is that when people say there are no easy opponents, today they’ve shown that they’re a great team,"
Lionel Scaloni, Manager, via FIFA
Cape Verde manager Bubista emphasized his team's bravery and identity, stating that while they were inexperienced at this tournament
, they remained resilient through 120 minutes of play.
Lionel Messi, who was named Player of the Match for the third time this tournament, acknowledged that Argentina struggled to press the opposition.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game... We lost the ball, fell back, couldn't press well, and they hit us. This is knockout football and no one will forgive you a thing,"
Lionel Messi, Captain, via The New York Times
Leandro Paredes added that while Argentina did not play their best game, suffering is good sometimes
and winning such a match shows the ability to fight through adversity.
The result cements Messi's individual dominance. He is the first player to score seven or more goals in multiple World Cups, having done so in Qatar as well. He currently leads the Golden Boot race with seven goals, sitting one ahead of Kylian Mbappe.
Path to the Next Round
Argentina will now travel to Atlanta to face Egypt, who advanced after defeating Australia in a penalty shootout. This matchup will feature a high-profile clash between Messi and Mohamed Salah.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Next Opponent | Egypt |
| Date | Tuesday, July 7 |
| Venue | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Kickoff Time | 12:00 PM ET |
