Argentina narrowly avoided one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history on Friday, edging past Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the last 32 of the 2026 tournament. The defending champions, led by Lionel Messi in his record-extending 30th World Cup appearance, needed a dramatic own goal from Cape Verde's Diney Borges in extra time to secure their place in the round of 16.
The match, played in Miami, saw Argentina take an early lead through Lautaro Martinez, who started alongside Messi in attack while Julian Alvarez was relegated to the bench. However, Cape Verde, appearing in their first World Cup knockout stage, stunned the South American giants by equalising before half-time and then taking the lead in the second half. Argentina's response was swift, with Messi instrumental in setting up the equaliser that forced extra time.
In the additional period, with the score level at 2-2, Borges inadvertently turned the ball into his own net under pressure from an Argentine attacker, handing the Albiceleste a lifeline. Argentina held on for the remaining minutes to avoid what would have been a historic defeat against a team ranked 72nd in the world. The result keeps Messi's hopes of adding another Golden Boot to his collection alive, as he continues to lead the tournament's scoring charts.
Cape Verde, who had already exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout phase, were forced to make a late change before kick-off. Midfielder Telmo Arcanjo, who had been struggling with a leg injury, started on the bench rather than in the lineup. Defender Sidny Lopes Cabral returned from suspension to start at left-back, providing some stability to the Cape Verdean defence. Despite the loss, the team earned widespread praise for their fearless performance against the world champions.
The match also drew attention off the pitch, with former England international David Beckham and his wife Victoria among the high-profile spectators in Miami. The couple, who own Inter Miami CF, were joined by their sons Romeo and Cruz to watch the encounter. Their presence added a touch of glamour to an already tense evening at the stadium.
For Argentina, the narrow escape raises questions about their form heading into the later stages of the tournament. While they remain favourites to progress, the performance against Cape Verde highlighted vulnerabilities that stronger opponents may exploit. Manager Lionel Scaloni will be relieved to have advanced but will likely demand improvements ahead of the round of 16 clash.
Messi, now the all-time leader in World Cup appearances by a men's player, continues to defy expectations at 38. His influence on the game remains decisive, even as Argentina rely on moments of individual brilliance to overcome determined underdogs. The victory sets up a meeting with either Australia or Denmark in the next round, where Argentina will aim to build momentum.
Cape Verde's elimination ends a remarkable tournament run that captured the imagination of neutrals. Their journey from group-stage qualifiers to pushing Argentina to the limit will be remembered as one of the stories of the World Cup. For Argentina, the focus now shifts to recovery and preparation for what promises to be a challenging knockout campaign.
