Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (aet): La Albiceleste qualify to RO16 to face Egypt after epic game

Argentina were taken all the way to ET for a record-extending 12th time at the FIFA World Cup (WC) before eventually beating Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32 in Florida.

Match Report

Diney Borges' luckless own goal spared Argentina's blushes as La Albiceleste earned a 3-2 last-32 extra-time win and broke Cape Verde hearts in an all-time World Cup classic on Friday.

Lionel Messi, making history as the first player to rack up 30 World Cup appearances, opened the scoring in sublime fashion after 29 minutes in the familiar surroundings of Miami Stadium.

But Cape Verde, playing in a knockout game at their first World Cup, caught the defending champions cold through Deroy Duarte's well-executed leveller.

Lisandro Martinez smashed high into the roof of the goal two minutes into extra time, only for Sidny Cabral to restore parity again with a goal-of-the-tournament contender.

Cristian Romero's flicked header from Messi's corner nestled into the top-right corner via Borges, though, and finally saw Argentina – for whom Lionel Scaloni was taking charge of his 100th game – settle a breathless World Cup classic to set up a last-16 tie with Egypt.

For minnows Cape Verde, it was a cruel end to a memorable first World Cup, and – even though they exit without winning a game – they can hold their heads high for the performance they produced against an elite opponent.

Messi tested the waters in the 15th minute when he dragged an effort wide of the right-hand post, then put a 25-yard free-kick straight into the gloves of Vozinha.

But the evergreen superstar opened the scoring in sublime style after 29 minutes, running off the shoulder of Borges to take down Lisandro Martinez's exquisite long punt and lift his effort past Vozinha at the near post.

Argentina struggled to create clear-cut chances after that, though, and Duarte tested Emiliano Martinez as Cape Verde showed significantly more ambition after the break.

And it paid off just before the hour when Duarte fired past Lisandro and Emiliano Martinez into the bottom-left corner from the right of the area.

Stung by the leveller, Messi was denied one-on-one by Vozinha, then the veteran goalkeeper was almost caught off guard by the Inter Miami star's quickly taken free-kick before scrambling the ball out of the top-left corner.

Cape Verde's brave resistance was broken just two minutes into extra time, as Lisandro Martinez fired high past Vozinha after collecting Alexis Mac Allister's flick-on from Messi's corner.

Incredibly, though, Bubista's men hit back with Cabral bending a stupendous effort into the top-right corner in the 103rd minute.

Once again, Argentina hit the front as Romero lost his marker to head Messi's corner into the top-right corner via Borges and, despite Cabral's well hit free-kick testing Emiliano Martinez, this time that proved one hurdle too many for Cape Verde to overcome.

Records tumble for Messi as Argentina survive almighty scare

He may now be 39, but eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi continues to absolutely delight in his twilight years.

Argentina never really found top gear here, but it was a typically magic finish that broke the deadlock, with Messi effortlessly dropping the shoulder and, in an instant, had lifted his effort past veteran Vozinha.

That saw Messi extend his all-time record for World Cup goals to 20, and also stretch his own moniker for most goals in consecutive games at the tournament to eight.

It also meant Messi became the first player in history to score seven or more goals in two editions of the tournament (2022 and 2026), and by netting in five straight knockout-round appearances he equals the longest streak in competition history, joining Leonidas (Brazil, 1934-38), Gyorgy Sarosi (Hungary, 1934-38, and Vava (Brazil, 1958-62).

His 12 goal involvements in knockout rounds (six goals, six assists), also saw him surpass Pele and Kylian Mbappe for the most since 1966.

But Argentina still struggled for fluency, and Cape Verde's equaliser – an expertly executed finish from Duarte – was by no means against the run of play.

It seemed to awaken Argentina from a slumber, and Lisandro Martinez became the first player other than Messi to score and assist in the same World Cup game for La Albiceleste since Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez against Serbia in June 2006.

Still the job was not done, and Cabral's stunning, bending effort will go down in Cape Verdean history.

That it should end up with an own goal, albeit one that Borges knew nothing about, feels especially cruel, but Cape Verde certainly played their part in one of the all-time great World Cup contests.

Match Events

29' GOAL! Messi scores with a brilliant shot into the roof of the net after being released inside the box by a superb lofted pass from Lisandro Martinez!  Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde

59' GOAL! Ryan Mendes plays a simple square pass into the feet of Deroy Duarte in the box, who composes himself and lashes the ball into the bottom left corner!  Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde

92' GOAL! The resulting corner is whipped into the box and Lisandro Martinez buries the ball into the back of the net from a Mac Allister knock down! Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde

103' GOAL! Sidny Lopes Cabral collects a good pass and slams the ball from mid-range into the top right corner! Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde

 111' OWN GOAL! Diney Borges attempts to head the ball away from inside the box, but unluckily he turns a cross from the resulting corner inside his own net! Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde

Line-ups

Argentina XI: Messi, E. Martinez, De Paul, Lautaro, Molina, Cristian Romero, Mac Allister, Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martinez, Thiago Almada, Enzo

Subs: Otamendi, Tagliafico, Gerónimo Rulli, Paredes, Musso, Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Senesi, N. Gonzalez, Alvarez, Flaco López, Giuliano Simeone, Valentín Barco, Nico Paz

Cape Verde XI: Ryan Mendes, Roberto Lopes, Vozinha, Steven Moreira, Da Costa, Diney Borges, Laros Duarte, Deroy Duarte, Jovane Cabral, Kevin Pina, Sidny Lopes Cabral

Subs: Stopira, Garry Rodrigues, Márcio Rosa, Jamiro Monteiro, Yannick Semedo, CJ dos Santos, Willy Semedo, Logan Costa, João Paulo, Telmo Arcanjo, Kelvin Pires, Hélio Varela, Gilson Benchimol, Dailon Livramento, Wagner Pina