05 July,2026 09:04 AM IST | Miami | Agencies
Argentina skipper Lionel Messi (centre) beats Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozhina (left) for the opening goal in Miami on Friday. Pic/AP, PTI
Football icon Lionel Messi wiped the sweat from his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief. His Argentina teammates did the same. A thrilling, unforgettable World Cup match with underdog Cape Verde was over - and the defending champions survived after being pushed to the brink.
Cape Verde equalised in regulation and again in extra time, but the Blue Sharks could not respond to Argentina's third goal, and La Albiceleste advanced to the round of 16 with a 3-2 victory on Friday.
Even in defeat, the performance by Cape Verde - a tiny island nation off the western coast of Africa - will stand as one of the most remarkable stories of this, or any, World Cup.
"I have to give credit to our opponents. The truth is, when people say there's no such thing as an easy opponent, today [Cape Verde] proved they're a great team," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.
The go-ahead score for Argentina was credited as an own-goal after Cristian Romero's header deflected off Cape Verde's Diney Borges in the 111th minute.
Messi scored early in regulation, his record-extending 20th career World Cup goal. Defender Lisandro Martinez scored in the 92nd to put Argentina ahead 2-1.
Sidny Lopes Cabral and Deroy Duarte scored for Cape Verde - both equalisers. Cabral's goal - a curling, right-footed strike past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the 103rd minute - made an already wild game even more incredible, tying it at 2-all.
Argentina pushed back in front eight minutes later, held on from there and advanced to face Egypt - which beat Australia in a shootout earlier Friday - in Atlanta on Tuesday.
"We put in a huge effort, playing well and playing badly. But the important thing now is to rest, think about what's coming next and try to take positives from today's game. Beyond just qualifying, there are positives because we did some good things, and we also need to correct the bad ones, which were many as well," Messi said.
"We knew it was going to be a very tough match; this team hadn't lost to Spain and Uruguay for a reason. We did the hardest part, which was finding the first goal. We thought that from then on, we would start to find our game and be more relaxed, but it was the complete opposite. We lost the ball, we sat back, we couldn't pressure them well, and they struck with their strengths. We knew it was going to be difficult; this is a knockout tournament, and nobody gives you anything for free," Messi said.
"We knew it wasn't going to be easy at all, and that's what this World Cup, in particular, is all about. It's very evenly matched, very complicated, and every game is going to be extremely difficult," he added.
Aeven
No. of goals scored by Lionel Messi at the ongoing FIFA World Cup - the first player to reach the mark in two editions (2022 and 2026) of the quaadrennial showpiece
12
No. of times Argentina have gone to extra-time at the FIFA World Cup - the joint-most for any team alongside Germany. They have won 10 of those matches
18
No. of saves for Vozinha at the ongoing FIFA World Cup - the third-most behind Curacao's Eloy Room (20) and Paraguay's Orlando Gill (19).
20
No. of goals scored by Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup - the highest ever
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