Argentina survive Cape Verde thriller with 3-2 extra-time win, Messi breaks records
Lionel Messi scored his 20th World Cup goal and Cristian Romero headed a 111th-minute winner as Argentina edged Cape Verde 3-2 in Miami to reach the last 16, where they will face Egypt.
Match summary
Argentina survived a major scare against Cape Verde in the World Cup 2026 round of 32 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, winning 3-2 after extra time. The defending champions took the lead through Lionel Messi in the 29th minute, but Cape Verde equalised through Deroy Duarte just before the hour mark. The match went to extra time, where Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina's lead in the 92nd minute, only for Jovane Cabral to level again with a stunning strike in the 103rd minute. Cristian Romero finally settled the contest with a header from a Messi corner in the 111th minute, and Emiliano Martínez preserved the win with a crucial save from a Cabral free kick in the 116th minute.
Messi's record-breaking night
Messi's opening goal was his 20th in World Cup finals, making him the first player to reach that milestone. He also became the first to score in eight consecutive World Cup matches, the first to score in five straight knockout games, and the first to net seven goals in two different World Cup tournaments. With an assist for Romero's winner, he moved to 12 goal involvements in World Cup knockout matches (six goals, six assists), surpassing Pelé and Kylian Mbappé. The goal was his seventh of the 2026 tournament, putting him top of the scoring charts. His 30th World Cup appearance and 203rd international cap added further landmarks on a historic night.
Cape Verde's heroic resistance
Cape Verde, appearing in only their second World Cup, pushed Argentina to the limit. Duarte's equaliser in the 59th minute, set up by Ryan Mendes, stunned the pro-Argentina crowd of 50,000. Goalkeeper Vozinha made a series of outstanding saves, denying Messi from a free kick in stoppage time and keeping his side in the contest. Cabral's curling shot from the left in extra time briefly threatened one of the tournament's biggest upsets before Romero's intervention. The island nation earned widespread praise for their fearless performance.
What's next
Argentina advance to a round-of-16 meeting with Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, on July 7 at 19:00 in Atlanta. The match marked Lionel Scaloni's 100th game in charge of Argentina.
