Lionel Messi strengthened his place at the top of the World Cup’s all-time scoring charts after netting his 20th tournament goal to help Argentina edge Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time and book their place in the Round of 16.
The Argentine captain scored his seventh goal of the 2026 World Cup with a trademark piece of brilliance, controlling Lisandro Martinez’s pass before calmly finishing to give the defending champions the lead.
However, tournament debutants Cape Verde refused to back down. Deroy Duarte equalised just after the hour mark, forcing Argentina into a far tougher contest than expected under the sweltering Miami heat.
Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s advantage early in extra time, only for Sidny Lopes Cabral to produce a stunning strike into the top corner to level the match once again.
The decisive moment eventually arrived from a corner, as Cristian Romero rose highest to meet Messi’s delivery before the ball deflected off Diney Borges for an own goal that sealed Argentina’s dramatic victory.
Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16, although head coach Lionel Scaloni will know his side must improve after being pushed to the limit by a fearless Cape Verde team.
Making their World Cup debut, the Blue Sharks had already impressed by holding Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws during the group stage, and they once again showcased their resilience against the reigning world champions.
Cape Verde coach Bubista had described the clash as “the game of our lives,” and his players lived up to that billing with a spirited performance that stretched Argentina for more than 120 minutes.
Back in Miami—where he now stars for Inter Miami—Messi was greeted by a crowd of nearly 65,000 fans, many wearing Argentina’s famous sky blue and white colours.
The 39-year-old delivered another magical moment with his superb opening goal, extending his remarkable streak to eight consecutive World Cup matches with a goal.
His latest strike also increased his advantage over Kylian Mbappe in the race to become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who became a global sensation after his heroics against Spain earlier in the competition, also enjoyed another standout display. The veteran shot-stopper denied Messi in a one-on-one situation that looked destined to become another iconic goal, adding another highlight to his memorable World Cup campaign despite his side’s elimination.
