Defending champions Argentina survived a major upset scare to beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time on Friday, with Lionel Messi scoring his 20th FIFA World Cup goal to send his side into the Round of 16.
Argentina appeared to be in control after Messi`s first-half opener, but tournament debutants Cape Verde twice fought back to force extra time in a spirited performance that pushed the world champions to the limit.
Messi struck his seventh goal of the tournament with a superb finish after controlling a pass from Lisandro Martínez, giving Argentina the lead in front of a packed crowd in Miami, where the Inter Miami star received a hero`s welcome.
Cape Verde responded in the second half through Deroy Duarte, who fired home to level the score and silence the Argentine supporters.
Argentina regained the advantage early in extra time when defender Lisandro Martínez found the net, but the resilient Blue Sharks refused to surrender. Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning long-range strike to make it 2-2 and bring the underdogs within moments of a famous penalty shootout.
The decisive goal came from an Argentine corner, with Cristian Romero`s header taking a deflection off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges before crossing the line for an own goal.
The victory sends Argentina into a Round-of-16 meeting with Egypt in Atlanta.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni admitted his team had been pushed to its limits and praised Cape Verde for producing one of Argentina`s toughest matches of the tournament.
Cape Verde, playing in their first-ever World Cup, impressed throughout the competition after advancing from the group stage with draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia before nearly pulling off one of the tournament`s biggest shocks.
Messi`s goal also extended his remarkable scoring streak to eight consecutive World Cup matches and increased his all-time tournament tally to 20 goals.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez made several crucial saves late in the match, including a fingertip stop in the closing seconds of extra time, helping the defending champions avoid an extraordinary elimination and keep their title defence alive.
-20260704012832.webp)
