Argentina secured their place in the Round of 16 after defeating Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in a breathtaking FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 encounter. The reigning world champions faced a fearless Cape Verde side that refused to surrender and pushed them to the limit until the final whistle.
Lionel Messi broke the deadlock in the 29th minute with a clinical finish after Lisandro Martínez released him inside the box. Argentina controlled possession for most of the first half, but Cape Verde defended with discipline and remained within striking distance before raising its level after the break. Deroy Duarte rewarded that determination by equalizing in the 59th minute after a well-worked attacking move.
Extra time produced even more drama. Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s lead in the 92nd minute from a Messi corner, but Sidny Cabral answered with a stunning strike in the 103rd minute to make it 2-2. Cape Verde continued to attack with confidence and created several dangerous opportunities, forcing Emiliano Martínez into decisive saves.
Cristian Romero finally settled the contest in the 111th minute when he powered home another Lionel Messi corner to hand Argentina a 3-2 victory. Cape Verde threw everything forward during the closing minutes, but Argentina resisted the late pressure to seal qualification. Despite the defeat, the Blue Sharks earned widespread praise for an outstanding performance against one of the tournament favorites.
