MIAMI. Debutant Cape Verde went out of the World Cup without losing a match for 90 minutes.
Argentina decided in extra time.
– We knew it would be a very tough match, says Lionel Messi.
Cape Verde, with a population of just over half a million, came close to toppling reigning world champions Argentina at the Miami Stadium.
Lionel Messi’s classy lead was not enough for Argentina and the game went to extra time after Deroy Duarte’s equalizer early in the second half.
Lisandro Martínez’s 2–1 goal at the start of extra time was not enough for Argentina either. Sidny Lopes Cabral offered a candidate for the WC’s prettiest goal at the end of the first quarter of extra time.
The Cape Verdean left-back – who belonged to Helsingborg’s IF P19 team and was rated by HIF ahead of Allsvenskan 2022 – screwed the ball into the cross behind Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
Own goal decided
Argentina’s decisive 3-2 goal came in the 111th minute when Cape Verdean defender Diney Borges accidentally headed a corner into his own net.
Despite the snowy end, Cape Verde’s World Cup effort will be remembered. The team did not lose a single game during regular time.
– I want to congratulate the opponents. Today they really showed that they are a very good team, says Argentina’s national team captain Lionel Scaloni The Nation.
Messi about the match
Lionel Messi agrees.
– Some may underestimate some national teams because of their names, but we knew it would not be easy at all, says Messi.
He pays tribute to Cape Verde.
– It is no coincidence that this team did not lose to either Spain or Uruguay (in the group stage). We thought it would be easier once we had scored the first goal – that we would find our game and find a composure. But it was just the opposite. We lost the ball, dropped back a bit and didn’t manage to press them the way we wanted. Then they struck, says Messi.
Messi’s 20th World Cup goal
The 39-year-old Messi was named player of the match and, as usual, was behind most of Argentina’s goals. He is now in the sole lead in the shooting league in WC 2026, with seven goals. That’s one goal more than Kylian Mbappé has scored.
Even in the WC’s total shooting league, Messi is at the top. He has scored 20 World Cup goals, which is two goals more than Mbappé.
In the round of 16, Argentina plays against Egypt.
– Now it is important to rest and think about what is to come, says Messi.
The best goalscorers in WC history
1. Lionel Messi, Argentina, 20 goals
2. Kylian Mbappé, France, 18 goals
3. Miroslav Klose, Germany, 16 goals
4. Ronaldo, Brazil, 15 goals
5. Gerd Müller, West Germany, 14 goals
6. Just Fontaine, France, 13 goals
6. Harry Kane, England, 13 goals
8. Pelé, Brazil, 12 goals
9. Sándor Kocsis, Hungary, 11 goals
9. Jürgen Klinsmann, West Germany/Germany, 11 goals
9. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, 11 goals
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