Holders Argentina needed Diney Borges’ 111th-minute own goal from Lionel Messi’s corner to earn a last-16 place at the World Cup 2026 and end Cape Verde’s magical run on their finals debut in a remarkable knockout tie in Miami.
Cape Verde, who held European champions Spain as part of an unbeaten group stage, fell behind when Messi brought down Lisandro Martinez’s long ball to score in a record-extending eighth World Cup match in the 29th minute, but Deroy Duarte levelled 30 minutes later by collecting Ryan Mendes’ pass and arrowing a low finish through Lisandro Martinez’s legs and beyond goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez
Manchester United defender Martinez rifled in with two minutes of extra time played, only for Sidny Lopes Cabral to conjure one of the goals of the tournament by cutting inside the box from the left and curling a spectacular finish into the corner of the net.
The Blue Sharks’ seemingly fearless commitment to attacking looked to have taken the thriller to penalties before the unfortunate Diney nodded in Messi’s delivery, sending La Albiceleste to meet Egypt, who earlier beat Australia on penalties, in the last 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday (17:00 BST).
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Argentina vs Cape Verde: ‘An absolute joy’
Positioned between Iraq and Ghana in the rankings, few would have given Cape Verde hope of going as far as a fourth game at the finals, let alone remaining unbeaten over 90 minutes against opponents including the reigning world and European champions and former world champions Uruguay.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who became an instant superstar with his performances at the finals at the age of 40, was impressive again, including a one-on-one save to deny Messi a near-immediate second after Duarte’s goal.
“Tonight hasn’t been their night,” former Scotland striker Ally McCoist told ITV, while ex-England defender Gary Neville suggested cynics might have “laughed” at Cape Verde’s involvement before the tournament, describing their efforts as “Herculean”.
“An absolute immense game of football,” added McCoist. “They’ve got far, far, far more than spirit.
“Boy, have they entertained us this World Cup. They’ve been an absolute joy.”
World Cup 2026: Argentina team vs Cape Verde
Messi returned in one of nine Argentina changes from their 3-1 win over Jordan on matchday three, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and forward Lautaro Martinez the pair retained.
Argentina starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi, Thiago Almada, Lautaro Martinez
Argentina substitutes: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Paredes, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nico Gonzalez, Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez
World Cup 2026: Cape Verde team vs Argentina
Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Jovane Cabral, Laros Duarte and Nuno Da Costa came in for Cape Verde, with Wagner Pina, Joao Paulo, Jamiro Monteiro, Willy Semedo and Dailon Livramento moving to the bench from their 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia.
Cape Verde starting XI: Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico Lopes, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Nuno Da Costa, Ryan Mendes
Cape Verde substitutes: Marcio Rosa, Cj Dos Santos, Stopira, Logan Costa, Wagner Pina, Kelvin Pires, Joao Paulo, Jamiro Monteiro, Garry Rodrigues, Yannick Semedo, Willy Semedo, Telmo Arcanjo, Helio Varela, Gilson Benchimol, Dailon Livramento
World Cup 2026: Argentina v Cape Verde stats
- Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has 12 goals in total across that eight-game World Cup run (5 in the last 4 matches in Qatar 2022, 6 in three in 2026)
- Against Jordan on matchday three, Argentina became the second team to start two players aged at least 38 in a single World Cup edition, with Messi and Nicolas Otamendi following Brazil’s Thiago Silva and Dani Alves in 2022
- Only Spain, Mexico and Brazil bettered Cape Verde’s record of two goals conceded during the group stage, with only La Roja and El Tri Spain keeping more clean sheets than the two they collected
- Cape Verde had 25.7% possession against Spain and were outshot 27 to six and 34.8% against Uruguay, with an attempts count of 12-17
- Against Saudi Arabia, however, they then had 51% of play, 15 attempts to their opponents’ seven and finished on an expected goals total of 1.39 xG to the Green Falcons’ 0.39
- They are the first debutants to go unbeaten in the group stage at the World Cup since Senegal in 2002
- Vozinha is the third goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep more than one clean sheet after turning 40, following Peter Shilton (three) and Dino Zoff (two)
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