Lionel Messi raises both arms in celebration after Argentina secured victory against Cape Verde in a 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 match at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Friday (local time). [AFP]
Lionel Messi raises both arms in celebration after Argentina secured victory against Cape Verde in a 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 match at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Friday (local time). [AFP]

Defending champion Argentina survived a grueling extra-time battle against surprise package Cape Verde to advance to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Argentina drew 1-1 through 90 minutes before pulling away 3-2 in extra time against Cape Verde on Friday (local time) at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The result keeps Argentina's bid for a fourth World Cup title alive. They previously won the tournament at home in 1978, in Mexico in 1986 and most recently at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Argentina swept through the group stage, defeating Algeria, Austria and Jordan, before grinding out a hard-fought win in their tournament opener.

Argentina will face Egypt in the round of 16 on Wednesday in Atlanta. Egypt advanced by eliminating Australia on penalties, setting up a marquee clash between Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah.

Cape Verde, the tournament's most talked-about team, saw their remarkable run end against the South American giants.

The African island nation, making their first-ever World Cup appearance, drew all three group-stage matches against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to finish second in Group H with three points and reach the round of 32. They pushed Argentina to the limit, equalizing twice in a memorable contest.

Argentina started with an attacking trio of Messi, Thiago Almada and Lautaro Martinez, while Cape Verde's standout goalkeeper Vozinha guarded the net for the underdogs.

Messi had his first shot in the 15th minute, a left-footed effort from the left side of the penalty area that drifted wide, and three minutes later his free kick was gathered by Vozinha.

But Messi made no mistake in the 29th minute, breaking the deadlock with the opening goal.

Lisandro Martinez picked out Messi with a long ball from the center circle, and Messi controlled it with a deft first touch before slotting home with his left foot.

The goal was Messi's 20th in World Cup history, making him the first player ever to reach that milestone, and his seventh of the tournament — moving him past Kylian Mbappe of France (six goals) into sole possession of the scoring lead.

Argentina repeatedly snuffed out Cape Verde's counterattacking attempts and went into halftime with a one-goal lead after Enzo Fernandez's right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty arc in first-half stoppage time was saved by Vozinha.

Cape Verde came out with more purpose in the second half and leveled in the 59th minute to reset the match.

Ryan Mendes fed the ball along the ground from the right flank, and Droy Duarte finished with a right-footed shot from a tight angle.

Argentina pressed urgently for a second goal but could not find a way through.

Vozinha denied Messi's right-footed free kick from a promising position to the left of the penalty arc in the 73rd minute. In stoppage time, Messi earned another prime free-kick opportunity from the right side of the arc, only for his left-footed effort to be stopped again by Vozinha.

In extra time, Argentina regained the lead just two minutes in through Lisandro Martinez, but a determined Cape Verde equalized again before the end of the first extra-time period, stunning Argentina.

In the 13th minute of the first extra-time period, Sidney Lopez Cabral received a return pass on the left flank, drove into the penalty area and fired a right-footed shot into the net for a wonder goal.

Argentina, who had come perilously close to suffering the tournament's biggest upset, finally secured the winning goal in the sixth minute of the second extra-time period.

A corner kick from Messi led to a header by Cristian Romero that deflected off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and into the net for an own goal, restoring Argentina's lead.

Argentina sensed victory in the 11th minute of the second extra-time period when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez — named best goalkeeper at the Qatar World Cup — punched away Cabral's free kick from the left flank.

Cape Verde continued to threaten until the final whistle, repeatedly testing Argentina's nerves, but a third equalizer never came.


spa@heraldcorp.com