Omar Faruk

Reigning world champions Argentina secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in extra time on Saturday, maintaining their 100% winning record in the 2026 World Cup and booking a spot in the Round of 16. Following the breathless encounter, the Albiceleste are now set to face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in the knockout stage.

Lionel Scaloni’s side entered the match as clear favorites and dominant force, breaking the deadlock shortly after the first-half hydration break amidst intense roaring from a stadium packed with Argentine supporters. Captain Lionel Messi controlled a superb long pass from defender Lisandro Martínez inside the penalty box before unleashing a powerful strike that beat Cape Verde’s experienced goalkeeper Vozinha. With this goal, Messi carved his name deeper into football history as the first player ever to score 20 career World Cup goals, alongside becoming the first player to score seven or more goals in two different editions of the tournament.

Despite falling behind, Cape Verde—rightly considered one of the tournament's biggest surprise packages—refused to back down and emerged as a completely transformed side in the second half. After an initial warning shot by Deroy Duarte was blocked by Emiliano Martínez in the 53rd minute, Cape Verde stunned the Argentine defense in the 59th minute. Duarte latched onto a precise pass from Ryan Mendes and produced a clinical finish to beat 'Dibu' Martínez, leveling the score line. Argentina responded with an all-out offensive assault, but Messi uncharacteristically missed two one-on-one opportunities against Vozinha, who also pulled off a miraculous reflex save against a deflected Messi free-kick in the 94th minute to push the game into extra time at 1-1.

The drama intensified just two minutes into extra time when Lisandro Martínez found himself unmarked during a corner kick, smashing the ball into the net to restore Argentina's lead. Yet, Cape Verde's fairy-tale resilience struck again in the final moments of the first period of extra time, as Sidney Lopes Cabral unleashed an unbelievable, spectacular strike from the left corner outside the box, leaving the match deadlocked at 2-2.

Desperate to avoid the unpredictable fortune of a penalty shootout, Argentina threw everything forward and finally found their savior in the 111th minute. Star defender Cristian Romero rose above the crowd during a goalmouth scramble from a Messi corner, powering a brilliant header into the back of the net.

While Cape Verde launched frantic attacks in the dying minutes to equalize, the Argentine defense held firm until the final whistle, sparking ecstatic celebrations of relief from the champions while a heartbroken Cape Verde side exited the pitch to a standing ovation.