Messi and Argentina Escape Cape Verde Upset at World Cup 2026
Argentina survives a stunning 3-2 extra-time thriller against Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup. Relive every goal and moment on winmatch.
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The Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup gave fans a match they won't forget. Defending champions Argentina came dangerously close to suffering one of the biggest upsets in football history, but pulled through with a 3-2 win in extra time against a fearless Cape Verde side at Miami Stadium.
If you love following unpredictable matches and cheering for underdogs, this is the kind of game that keeps you glued to the screen. And with winmatch, you can follow every twist of a match like this in real time.
Messi Gets Argentina Off to a Strong Start
The match started just as most fans expected. In the 29th minute, Lionel Messi slipped past Cape Verde's defense. After a perfectly placed pass from Alexis Mac Allister, Messi finished smoothly into the net — his 20th World Cup goal, a new record.
Early goals like this often set the tone for a match, and winmatch lets you follow these key moments as they happen, right from your phone or computer.
Cape Verde Fights Back
Instead of falling apart after conceding to the world champions, Cape Verde responded with courage and discipline. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, was outstanding all night — making 10 saves, five of them against Messi alone.
In the 59th minute, the stadium went quiet as Deroy Duarte found a gap and slotted a low shot past Emiliano Martínez to level the score at 1-1.
How the Goals Unfolded
| Minute | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 29' | Messi scores a brilliant solo goal (1-0) |
| 59' | Deroy Duarte equalizes with a clean finish (1-1) |
| 92' | Lisandro Martínez fires in a top-corner strike (2-1) |
| 103' | Sidny Lopes Cabral curls in a stunning goal (2-2) |
| 111' | Diney Borges deflects a header into his own net (3-2) |
Following moments like these — the comebacks, the late drama — is part of what makes tournament football so exciting. On winmatch, you can build your own fantasy squad and track player performances throughout the tournament.
A Wild Finish in Extra Time
Argentina thought they had the game won when Lisandro Martínez scored a stunning strike in the 92nd minute. But Cape Verde weren't done — Sidny Lopes Cabral answered back in the 103rd minute with a curling shot that could be a goal of the tournament contender, tying the game at 2-2.
Then, in a cruel twist, Cape Verde defender Diney Borges accidentally deflected a header from Cristian Romero into his own net in the 111th minute, sealing Argentina's win.
Keep the World Cup Excitement Going
Argentina, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, now moves on to face Egypt in the Round of 16 — and the tournament's next big matches are already generating buzz. If you want to stay close to every moment of the action, winmatch gives you tools to follow matches, build fantasy teams, and explore a wide range of games for entertainment between matches.
Sign up with winmatch, pick your World Cup favorites, and stay part of the action all tournament long.
To see highlights and expert breakdowns of this dramatic match, check out ESPN FC's Live Reaction coverage, which dives into how Argentina's defense wavered against one of the tournament's toughest underdogs.
