Messi, Argentina survive scare against Cape Verde

Argentina narrowly avoided a historic World Cup upset against Cape Verde, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory after extra time on July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens. Tottenham defender Cristian Romero scored the winning goal in the 111th minute, heading in a deflected shot from Lionel Messi's corner. Despite being favorites, Argentina faced a tough challenge from Cape Verde, who managed to equalize twice, nearly pulling off one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a well-taken goal in the first half, marking his seventh of the tournament. However, Cape Verde's Deroy Duarte stunned thousands of Argentine fans by equalizing in the second half. In extra time, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez appeared to give Argentina the lead again at 2-1. But just moments later, Cape Verde’s Sidny Cabral produced an incredible curling shot from the left that leveled the score once more. Argentina regained the lead after Borges accidentally redirected Romero's header into his own net. Yet, the match held further drama as Emiliano Martínez made a crucial save against Cabral's free kick, allowing Argentina to advance.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had warned his players against underestimating Cape Verde, noting their strong defensive capabilities. Cape Verde, the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, demonstrated remarkable organization in their half, keeping Argentina on their toes. Their goalkeeper Vozinha impressed with eight saves, contributing significantly to the tension of the match.

Argentina's victory enables them to progress to the round of 16, but the match revealed vulnerabilities that must be addressed. If they had lost, it would have ranked as the greatest upset in World Cup knockout history based on FIFA rankings. Currently, that distinction belongs to Russia, who eliminated Spain in 2018 as the No. 70 team.

Cape Verde returned home with newfound respect, showcasing their talent on the world stage. Their tournament included memorable moments, including their draw with Spain and their first-ever World Cup goal against Uruguay. Looking forward, Cape Verde aims to build on this experience and continue to improve as a footballing nation in future tournaments. Their supporters celebrate the remarkable journey, holding their heads high despite the loss.

As Argentina reflects on their performance, they must rectify the issues exposed by Cape Verde if they hope to advance further in the tournament.