Defending champions Argentina national football team needed extra time to overcome Cape Verde national football team 3-2 in Florida, extending their World Cup record for matches decided after extra time to 12.
An unfortunate own goal by Diney Borges ultimately separated the two sides in a thrilling Round of 32 encounter, ending Cape Verde’s remarkable run at their maiden World Cup appearance.
Lionel Messi, making history with his 30th World Cup appearance, put Argentina ahead after 29 minutes at Miami Stadium.
However, Cape Verde responded through Deroy Duarte, who calmly finished to draw his side level.
Two minutes into extra time, Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s advantage with a powerful strike into the roof of the net, only for Sidny Cabral to level matters once again with a spectacular effort.
The decisive moment arrived when Cristian Romero met Messi’s corner with a flicked header that found the net via Borges, sealing victory for Argentina in what was Lionel Scaloni’s 100th match in charge and setting up a last-16 meeting with Egypt.
Despite exiting the tournament without a win, Cape Verde earned widespread praise for their spirited display against one of football’s traditional powerhouses.
Messi had earlier gone close in the 15th minute before opening the scoring with a composed finish, controlling a long pass from Lisandro Martinez and lifting the ball beyond goalkeeper Vozinha.
Cape Verde grew into the game after the interval, with Duarte testing Emiliano Martinez before eventually finding the equaliser shortly before the hour mark.
Argentina responded with renewed urgency, but Vozinha produced key saves to deny Messi on multiple occasions.
The South Americans regained the lead in extra time through Lisandro Martinez after he capitalised on a flick-on from Alexis Mac Allister following another Messi corner.
Yet Cape Verde refused to surrender, with Cabral curling a stunning strike into the top corner in the 103rd minute.
Romero eventually settled the contest, heading home from Messi’s delivery, with the ball taking a decisive deflection off Borges before crossing the line.
The victory also brought several milestones for Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner increased his World Cup goal tally to 20 and became the first player to score at least seven goals in two separate editions of the competition, having achieved the feat in both 2022 and 2026.
He also matched the longest scoring streak in consecutive knockout appearances and moved ahead of both Pele and Kylian Mbappe for the most goal involvements in World Cup knockout matches since 1966.
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez became the first Argentine player apart from Messi to register both a goal and an assist in a World Cup match since Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez accomplished the feat against Serbia in 2006.
For Cape Verde, the heartbreaking defeat could not overshadow a memorable debut campaign, with their performance against Argentina likely to remain one of the nation’s proudest football moments.
