It was a thrilling and unforgettable FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32 match as underdog Cape Verde narrowly lost, 3-2, to the reigning champion, Argentina, on Friday.
Even in defeat, the performance by Cape Verde, a tiny island nation off the western coast of Africa, will stand as one of the most remarkable stories of the tournament, or any, World Cup.
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Lionel Messi opened the scoring in sublime fashion after 29 minutes, becoming the first player to make 30 World Cup appearances in the familiar surroundings of Miami Stadium.
In doing so, Messi also extended his own record of scoring in eight consecutive World Cup games and opened up a two-goal cushion once more over France’s Kylian Mbappe in the battle to be the competition’s all-time top goal scorer.
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.
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Scaloni could only wipe his furrowed brow with relief when Messi’s corner was turned in for an own goal by the unfortunate Borges.
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.
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