In a thrilling encounter at the World Cup round of 32 in Miami, Argentina overcame Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time, with Lionel Messi contributing to the scoreline. The match saw Argentina, the top-ranked FIFA team, narrowly avoid what could have been a historic upset against the 67th-ranked Cape Verde.

Messi Shines Again

Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, showcasing his exceptional skill by controlling a pass from Lisandro Martínez with the outside of his left boot before deftly flicking the ball past Cape Verde's goalkeeper, Vozinha. This goal marked Messi's record-extending 20th in World Cup history and made him the first player to score in eight consecutive World Cup matches. He now has seven goals in this tournament, one more than Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.

Drama Unfolds in Extra Time

Despite Argentina's early lead, Cape Verde fought back, with Deroy Duarte equalizing in the 59th minute with a well-placed shot that beat Emiliano Martínez. As the match progressed into extra time, Lisandro Martínez put Argentina ahead again, but Sidny Lopes Cabral responded with a stunning equalizer, curling a shot into the far corner. The decisive moment came in the 111th minute when Diney Borges inadvertently scored an own goal while contesting a Messi set piece, sealing the victory for Argentina.

Argentina will now face Egypt, who advanced by defeating Australia in a penalty shootout earlier on Friday. Reflecting on the match, Messi stated, "As this team has demonstrated many times, and as I've said many times, it competes. And we competed to the end." Cape Verde's coach, Bubista, expressed pride in his team's performance, highlighting their dignity and resilience throughout the tournament.