Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging Cape Verde 3–2 in a dramatic Round of 32 clash played on the night of July 3.
Despite being widely expected to win comfortably, Argentina were pushed to the limit by World Cup debutants Cape Verde, who delivered an outstanding performance and forced the South American giants to fight until extra time.
Captain Lionel Messi gave Argentina the lead, extending his impressive World Cup scoring record to 20 goals in the tournament's history. Cape Verde responded through Deroy Duarte, with the match ending 1–1 after 90 minutes.
In extra time, Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina's lead, but Cape Verde refused to give up. Sidny Lopes Cabral equalised once again with a superb finish, raising hopes of taking the match to a penalty shootout.
However, Argentina found the winner in the 111th minute when Cristian Romero's header deflected off defender Diney Borges and into the net. The goal was recorded as an own goal, sealing a 3–2 victory for the defending champions.
After the match, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised Cape Verde's spirited display, saying there are no longer any "small teams" in modern football. Messi also acknowledged that his side expected a difficult challenge from the start. Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16.
Cape Verde Exit With Pride
Although eliminated, Cape Verde made history in their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance. The island nation, with a population of fewer than 600,000, earned widespread admiration by pushing the defending champions to the closing stages of extra time.
Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha was among the standout performers, making several outstanding saves, including multiple efforts from Messi. Cape Verde's players left the pitch to warm applause from supporters in recognition of their remarkable performance.
Africa Left With Two Representatives
Following the completion of the Round of 32, only two African nations remain in the tournament:
Morocco
Egypt
Morocco advanced after eliminating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout, while Egypt made history by winning their first-ever World Cup knockout match, defeating Australia on penalties.
The other African teams that reached the knockout stage—Cape Verde, Ghana, Senegal, Algeria, Ivory Coast, and DR Congo—have all been eliminated.
Argentina now head into the Round of 16 with a difficult challenge against Egypt, while Lionel Messi continues to add to his remarkable World Cup legacy with another important goal.
