Published On 4/7/2026
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Last update: 05:09 (Mecca time)
An amazing match presented by the Cape Verde team, in which it succeeded in embarrassing the defending champion, Argentina, and forced it to go to two additional periods in order for Lionel Messi’s teammates to qualify for the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup with a 3-2 victory over the ambitious African team.
King of extra time
This is Argentina’s 12th match in extra time in the World Cup, equaling Germany’s record as the team that has played the most extra time in the history of the tournament. The Argentine team has emerged victorious (including penalty kicks) in 10 out of the 12 matches it has played in extra time in the history of the World Cup (4 victories in extra time, 6 victories on penalty kicks).
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Argentina’s national team has scored two or more goals in 10 consecutive World Cup matches since 2022, equaling West Germany’s record (1938-1958) as the second longest streak in the tournament’s history, behind Uruguay, which scored in 11 consecutive matches between 1930 and 1954.
Denny Burgess’ own goal is the first match-deciding goal scored by friendly fire during extra time in World Cup history.
Historical numbers for Messi and Cape Verde
Lionel Messi is the first player to score seven or more goals in two different editions of the World Cup (2022 and 2026).
Lionel Messi scored his 20th goal in the World Cup, and also scored for the eighth consecutive match in the tournament, thus extending both records in the history of the competition.
Lionel Messi has contributed 12 goals in the knockout stages of the World Cup (6 goals, 6 assists), more than any other player since 1966.
Lisandro Martinez’s goal came in the 91:57 minute, the third fastest goal from the start of extra time in a World Cup since 1966, after Andre Schurrle’s goal (91:33) for Germany against Algeria in 2014, and Dragan Stojkovic’s goal (91:56) for Yugoslavia against Spain in 1990.
Lisandro Martinez is the first Argentine player other than Lionel Messi to score and assist in a single match for Argentina in a World Cup since Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez against Serbia in June 2006.
Four different players have scored all four of Cape Verde’s goals in the World Cup (Helio Varela, Kevin Pena, Deroy Duarte, Sidney Cabral), while two other players have assisted twice in this tournament (Ryan Mendes and Yannick Semedo).
After his eight saves tonight, Fosenha finished his participation in this year’s World Cup with 18 saves, the third most behind Curacao’s Eloy Rom (20) and Paraguay’s Orlando Gil (19).
