The penultimate spot in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup was contested between Argentina and Cape Verde, two teams that had never faced each other before, not even in friendly matches. The three-time world champions were clear favorites against the World Cup debutants.
Despite their favored status, Argentina took a measured approach, controlling the game without rushing. The first real threat from the reigning champions’ leader, Lionel Messi, came only in the 15th minute when he fired from inside the box, but the shot went wide of the far post.
Fifteen minutes later, Messi broke the deadlock. Receiving the ball first touch after a pass from Lisandro Martínez, he then struck with the tip of his boot past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. This goal marked Messi’s 20th in World Cup tournaments, setting a new record.
Cape Verde started the second half strongly. In the 54th minute, Duarte unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, but Emiliano Martínez made a solid save to deny the first truly dangerous attempt on his goal. However, five minutes later, Mendes played a short pass past a defender to Duarte, who then fired a powerful shot from a tight angle, beating Martínez to level the score at 1-1.
The remainder of regular time saw a duel between Messi and Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha. At 63 minutes, after a pass from Lautaro Martínez, Argentina’s captain found himself one-on-one but somehow failed to beat the keeper. Ten minutes later, Messi curled a free-kick towards the top far corner, but Vozinha reacted well to keep his team in the game. Shortly after, Messi attempted a decisive assist, but López intercepted a dangerous cross aimed at Álvarez near the far post.
Extra time was required, and early in the first period, Argentina regained the lead. Following a corner, Lisandro Martínez collected the ball and struck from a tight angle into the near top corner, making it 2-1.
Cape Verde responded ten minutes later with a stunning strike from Cabral. Nearly from the edge of the box, he hit a fantastic shot into the far top corner and celebrated by running to the stands to greet his girlfriend, leveling the score at 2-2.
In the 111th minute, after a corner delivered by Messi, Romero headed the ball with a slight deflection off a defender’s hand into the corner of the net, putting Argentina ahead 3-2. This marked Messi’s ninth World Cup assist, making him the tournament’s all-time leader in that category as well.
Cape Verde refused to give up and came close to forcing a penalty shootout, but Emiliano Martínez showcased his quality. In the 116th minute, Cabral took a free-kick from almost the same spot as his earlier goal, but Martínez pulled off a remarkable save beneath the crossbar. Just before the final whistle, Martínez also beat Benchimol to the ball and blocked it, conceding only a corner.
The match ended 3-2 in a hard-fought victory for the reigning world champions over the debutants, who won the admiration of the global football community with their spirited performance.
World Cup 2026
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (1-0)
