Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute and Argentina advanced 3-2 after extra time in the Argentina vs Cape Verde Round of 16 match. Messi’s finish in the first half was his 20th World Cup goal, extending his tournament scoring record.
The No. 64-ranked island nation twice pulled Argentina level in regulation and forced extra time. The match was decided in the second period of extra time after a sequence of dramatic plays that ended with an own-goal update on the official scoresheet.
Argentina vs Cape Verde
The reigning champions survived an intense test from a team ranked far below them on the FIFA list. Argentina advanced but only after extra time, showing how tightly contested the match became after Messi’s early breakthrough.
Quick score and Messi milestone
Messi put Argentina ahead in the 29th minute with a composed finish, a strike that was recorded as his 20th goal in World Cup play. That landmark maintained his streak of scoring in consecutive World Cup matches and added another notable tally to his tournament resume.
After Messi’s opener, Cape Verde regrouped and found ways to challenge Argentina throughout the second half, twice erasing deficits and ultimately forcing the game into extra time before a late deciding sequence.
Key moments that turned the game
29′ — Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a finish that put Argentina in front in the first half.
Early in the second half, Deroy Duarte produced a leveller for Cape Verde, making it 1-1 and swinging momentum toward the island side. That equalizer came as Cape Verde pressed more directly and tested Argentina’s defensive shape.
The remainder of regulation featured tense moments for both sides. Argentina created chances, including a dangerous free kick from Messi that was blocked, but Cape Verde kept responding. The parity at 1-1 at full time meant extra time would decide the knockout tie.
Extra time drama and the deciding sequences
Just after the restart of extra time, Lisandro Martínez scored in the 92nd minute to restore Argentina’s lead, putting the champions up 2-1 and appearing to give them the advantage coming out of the early extra-time period.
Cape Verde again answered. Sidny Lopes Cabral struck in the 103rd minute to make it 2-2, keeping his side alive deep into the additional period and demonstrating Cape Verde’s resilience on the big stage.
The match’s decisive action came later in extra time. Following a corner in the 111th minute, a headed attempt involving Argentina’s Cristian Romero ended up in the net after a deflection. Official records were later updated to list the goal as an own goal, and that update proved to be the match-winner, sealing a 3-2 extra-time victory for Argentina.
Why Cape Verde mattered
Cape Verde entered the match ranked No. 64 but showed it could challenge top teams across 120 minutes. The island side twice erased deficits against the world No. 2 and carried sustained pressure at key moments.
Statistics and rankings underscore the upset potential: Argentina arrived as one of the tournament favorites, yet Cape Verde matched them through long stretches of the game and produced multiple high-quality moments that forced the match into extra time.
By the numbers
• Messi — 29th-minute goal, his 20th World Cup goal overall.
• Lisandro Martínez — extra-time strike in the 92nd minute.
• Sidny Lopes Cabral — equalizer in the 103rd minute.
• 111th minute — corner sequence leading to an own-goal update credited after the play.
• Rankings — Cape Verde No. 64; Argentina No. 2.
What comes next for Argentina
Argentina will face Egypt in the Round of 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday. The champions advance but will need to recover physically and regroup tactically after a match that required late resilience.
Coaches and players are likely to review the extra-time sequences and set-piece defending that produced the decisive update on the scoresheet. Messi’s milestone remains a headline as Argentina turn their attention to the knockout schedule in Atlanta.
Reporting for this recap is based on coverage by Fox News. For the original match report, see the full story: Fox News.
