Argentina qualified for the pre-quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a thrilling match between Argentina and Cape Verde.
Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2, after the match between the two football teams was tied 1-1 in regular time, and the match between the two was decided in extra time.
In extra time, Argentina scored 2 goals and Cape Verde scored one goal, with Lionel Messi, Lesandro Martinez and Danny scoring for Argentina, while Dario Duarte and Sidney Lopes Cabral scored for Cape Verde.
Lionel Messi had scored an early goal to give Argentina the lead, but Cape Verde put up a great fight and dragged the match into extra time and came very close to one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Defending champions Argentina advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup after a thrilling extra-time own goal saw them beat a resilient Cape Verde 3-2.
Ronaldo recited “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim” before taking the penalty, then scored the winning goal!
African team Cape Verde, playing in their first World Cup, came back from two losses on Friday to silence the majority of the 64,478 spectators in the sweltering Miami Stadium.
Six minutes into the second half of extra time, Lionel Messi sent a corner kick into the box, where Cristian Romero headed in. The ball hit the arm of Cape Verde centre-back Dini Borges and went into the net, ultimately setting up Argentina’s next round clash against Egypt in Atlanta next Tuesday.
As expected, Messi scored his seventh goal of the tournament in the 29th minute to give Argentina the lead, but Deroy Duarte equalized just before the hour mark. Cape Verde, known as the “Blue Sharks,” defended strongly and took the match to an extra 30 minutes, but in the second minute of the first half of extra time, Lesandro Martinez fired a brilliant shot into the roof of the net and gave Argentina the lead again.
However, Cape Verde did not give up, and in the 103rd minute of the match, left-back Sidney Lopes Cabral curled the ball into the top corner of the net to level the score at 2-2.
After Romero’s goal, Lopes Cabral had another chance to equalize, but his excellent free kick was saved by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in a brilliant manner. They also kept Cape Verde from scoring in the dying moments of the match.
Although Cape Verde suffered a defeat, three-time world champions Argentina did not disappoint. The team, playing in their first World Cup, put on another memorable display of brilliant teamwork, determination and courage.
The only team of the four first-time participants to reach the last 32 of the World Cup and ranked 67th in the world at the start of the tournament, Cape Verde were hoping to upset Argentina in the same way they had troubled their opponents in the group stage against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
They were largely successful in this aim. The entire team showed extraordinary determination, a never-give-up spirit and excellent passing, giving Argentina a tough fight for most of the match.
Argentina and Egypt will face off in the FIFA World Cup pre-quarterfinals, which will be played on July 7.
