Defending FIFA World Cup champions Argentina were pushed to the limit by tournament debutants Cape Verde, eventually securing a dramatic 3–2 extra-time victory to book their place in the Round of 16 after one of the competition’s most thrilling matches.
Argentina survived one of the biggest scares of their FIFA World Cup title defence after edging Cape Verde 3–2 following extra time in a pulsating Round of 32 encounter. The South American giants twice surrendered the lead before a late own goal finally ended the resilient challenge of the World Cup debutants.
Captain Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the first half with his seventh goal of the tournament, extending his remarkable World Cup scoring record.
Cape Verde responded impressively through Deroy Duarte, who levelled the score after the break to stun the defending champions. Argentina regained the advantage in extra time through Lisandro Martínez, but the African side refused to surrender as Sidny Lopes Cabral produced another equaliser to make it 2–2.
With penalties looming, Argentina finally found the breakthrough in the second period of extra time when a Messi corner resulted in a header from Cristian Romero that deflected off Diney Borges into his own net, sealing a dramatic 3–2 victory for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Despite the defeat, Cape Verde earned widespread admiration for an outstanding tournament. Ranked 67th in the world, the Blue Sharks became the only World Cup debutants to reach the knockout stage and came within minutes of taking the defending champions to a penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Vozinha produced several outstanding saves throughout the match, while Cape Verde’s disciplined defending and fearless attacking display won praise from football fans and analysts around the world.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who marked his 100th match in charge, praised Cape Verde’s performance and acknowledged the difficulty of the contest.
Cape Verde coach Bubista described his team’s World Cup campaign as a historic achievement for the nation despite the heartbreaking exit, saying his players had shown the world that Cape Verde could compete with football’s elite.
Argentina now advance to the Round of 16, where they will face Egypt for a place in the quarter-finals. While the reigning champions remain on course to defend their title, Cape Verde leave the tournament with immense pride after producing one of the most memorable underdog performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.