Argentina survive a heroic Cape Verde (3-2), reaching the last 16 through Messi and an extra-time own goal
Messi put the champions ahead (29'), but debutants Cape Verde levelled twice (Deroy Duarte 59'; Lopes Cabral 103'). Lautaro (90+2') and a Diney Borges own goal in extra time (111') spared an Argentina side that will face Egypt in the last 16.
Argentina reached the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, but did so suffering to the very end against a brave Cape Verde (3-2 after extra time) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, the home of the NFL's Dolphins that also hosts the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and the tennis Open. The world champions needed an own goal in the 111th minute to see off the tournament's most humble side, an island nation that on their World Cup debut came within touching distance of the shock of knocking out the Albiceleste.
Lionel Scaloni again went with a 4-4-2 featuring Emiliano «Dibu» Martínez in goal; Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez and Facundo Medina in defence; De Paul, Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Thiago Almada in midfield; and Lionel Messi alongside Lautaro Martínez up front. The plan worked as expected in the 29th minute, when Messi finished off a Lautaro pass for 1-0 and seemingly set Argentina on a smooth path. The captain, decisive once more, would be named man of the match with a 9.3 rating.
But Cape Verde, coached by Pedro «Bubista» Leitão Brito, had not read the script. In the 59th minute, Deroy Duarte took a Ryan Mendes assist to make it 1-1 and silence the Albiceleste hordes who had painted Miami sky-blue and white. Argentina grew anxious, piled up possession without cutting edge, and only in stoppage time, in the 90+2 minute, did Lautaro Martínez collect a Mac Allister pass for a 2-1 that looked to settle the tie.
The drama, however, was saved for extra time. In the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral turned in the 2-2 and gave fresh life —and the jeopardy of penalties— to a Cape Verde side that kept growing. Just as the game was drifting towards a shootout, the debutants' misfortune struck: in the 111th minute, an unlucky own goal by defender Diney Borges handed the lead back to Argentina for a decisive 3-2. The closing minutes were an agony that the Albiceleste, with know-how and a booking or two (Montiel), managed to see out.
The numbers portray Argentina's sterile dominance: 64% possession, 22 attempts (10 on target) and an xG of 2.16 against Cape Verde's 0.45 — though with five shots on target the Africans were far closer to an upset than the figure suggests. The African side, one of the smallest nations ever to play a World Cup, leave the United States with their heads held high after a debut to remember. Argentina, with more fright than football, march on to the last 16 and already know their opponent: Egypt, who had knocked out Australia on penalties.