Argentina Beat Cape Verde 3-2 in Extra Time at World Cup

Argentina Survive Cape Verde Scare to Win 3-2 in World Cup Extra Time

Defending champions Argentina scraped through to the World Cup last 16 after a nerve-shredding 3-2 extra-time win over debutants Cape Verde in Miami. An own goal from Diney Borges in the 111th minute finally separated the sides after the tournament newcomers twice fought back to level the scores.

Messi Scores As Vozinha Frustrates Argentina Attack

Cape Verde, ranked 64th in the world and playing in the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time, arrived as the smallest nation ever to feature in a World Cup round of 32. Argentina’s supporters filled large parts of the stadium in sky-blue and white, and the holders began confidently, dominating the ball in the early stages.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, bringing down a lofted Lisandro Martinez pass before finishing emphatically into the roof of the net for his 20th World Cup goal. Rather than fold, Cape Verde pressed aggressively and levelled after the break when Deroy Duarte surged into the box and fired through Lisandro Martinez’s legs and beyond Emiliano Martinez from a tight angle.

As Argentina chased a winner, veteran goalkeeper Vozinha — the 40-year-old already praised for a goalless group-stage draw against Spain — produced a remarkable display. He made eight saves in total, including a one-on-one stop against Messi and a fingertip save from a free-kick, before Borges’s late own goal ultimately ended the underdogs’ run.

Cape Verde Defeat Inspires Future Football Investment

Argentina came into the tournament as the reigning champions following their triumph in Qatar four years earlier, and anything short of a deep run is treated as failure for a squad built around Messi’s enduring brilliance. Nights like this one, where the favourites are dragged to the limit, tend to dominate the global football conversation for days.

For Cape Verde, defeat does little to dim what the performance represents. Debutant nations that push established powers this far often inspire investment and belief back home, and their showing against the world champions will be remembered as a landmark moment for the country’s football.

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🌎🇦🇷 OFFICIAL: Lionel Messi, FIFA Man of the Match for Argentina vs Cape Verde. https://t.co/ne9cG7b0eC

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) View on X

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