Argentina needed extra time to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in their Round of 32 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami on Friday.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, receiving a long ball from Lisandro Martinez and smashing the roof of the net past Vozinha.
The match was turned on its head in the 59th minute when Deroy Duarte Lisandro nutmegged from the right side of the penalty area to score Cape Verde’s first ever knockouts goal.
Because the score was 1-1 after regular playing time, Argentina thought they had the winner in the first half of extra time. Lisandro was involved again when he got onto a rebound from a corner and hit the top right corner.
But Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a stunning curler from the edge of the box, hitting the top right corner to restore parity.
It was ultimately from a late corner that Argentina scored the winning goal. Messi delivered the cross and Christian Romero’s header was deflected near the goal by Diney Borges.
Argentina vs Cape Verde Player Ratings:
Argentina:
Martínez (6.1), Molina (6.2), Romero (7.7), Martínez (8.6), Medina (7.0), De Paul (6.9), Mac Allister (7.7), Fernández (7.9), Almada (6.5), Messi (8.3), Martínez (6.0)
Subs: González (7.1), Álvarez (6.5), Paredes (6.6), Tagliafico (6.8), Montiel (6.0)
Cape Verde:
da Costa (6.2), Cabral (6.6), Duarte (7.4), Duarte (6.2), Mendes (6.8), Pina (7.2), Cabral (7.4), Borges (5.5), Lopes (6.1), Moreira (6.0), Vozinha (7.3)
Subs: Monteiro (6.1), Livramento (5.9), Varela (6.7), Semedo (5.5), Semedo (7.5), Benchimol (6.1)
Published on July 4, 2026
