Argentina Prevail in Thriller Against Cape Verde to Advance
Full-time Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Cabo Verde on Saturday, sending the defending champions into the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after a tense encounter that pushed them to the limit.
Argentina needed extra time to overcome the tournament debutants, with the decisive goal arriving in the 111th minute when Cristian Romero’s header deflected off Cabo Verde defender Diney Borges for an own goal.
Messi had given Argentina the lead in the 29th minute, finishing clinically after racing onto a perfectly weighted pass from Lisandro Martínez. The goal was his tournament-leading seventh and the 20th World Cup goal of his illustrious career, further extending his all-time record.
Cabo Verde refused to back down, however, as Sidny Lopes Cabral and Deroy Duarte struck equalisers to shock the largely pro-Argentina crowd in South Florida. Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s advantage in the 103rd minute, only for Cabo Verde to continue battling until the late own goal finally settled the contest.
The victory sends Argentina into the Round of 16, where they will face Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday after the Pharaohs defeated Australia in a penalty shootout.
Although their remarkable World Cup journey came to an end, Cabo Verde earned widespread admiration with an unforgettable debut campaign. The tiny island nation became the smallest country ever to reach the knockout stage after securing impressive draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia during the group phase.
Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha was once again outstanding despite the defeat, making 10 saves, including five to deny Messi. However, the Argentine captain still produced another memorable performance, strengthening his lead in the Golden Boot race with seven goals—one ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé—and extending his record-breaking World Cup scoring tally.
