Argentina Edges Cape Verde 3-2 in Extra Time to Advance in FIFA World Cup 2026

In a gripping Round of 16 match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Miami, Argentina narrowly defeated the tournament underdogs Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time. Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Argentina, marking his 20th World Cup goal, but Cape Verde showed remarkable resilience by equalizing twice, with Deroy Duarte and Sidny Lopes Cabral making significant impacts. Lopes Cabral's stunning equalizer in regulation time was hailed as one of the match's defining moments.

Despite Cape Verde's spirited effort, Cristian Romero's decisive goal in the 111th minute awarded Argentina the victory. Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha stood out with multiple crucial saves against Argentina's attacks, notably frustrating Messi.

Cape Verde's coach, Pedro Leitao Brito, expressed immense pride in his team's performance, emphasizing their commitment to compete fiercely against top football nations. This performance follows Cape Verde's impressive group stage results including draws against Spain and Uruguay, which helped secure their first-ever knockout stage appearance.

The match has been widely praised globally as one of the World Cup's greatest surprises, spotlighting the value of the expanded 48-team format. Cape Verde's journey captivated fans and earned the team a hero's welcome at home, inspiring smaller nations to dream big on football's biggest stage.