Argentina Clinches Dramatic Extra-Time Victory Against Brave Cape Verde in World Cup Round of 32

Argentina’s path to a second consecutive title remains alive, though it nearly ended in a historic upset. In a pulsating Round of 32 match at Miami Stadium, the defending champions were pushed to their absolute limit by World Cup debutants Cape Verde. Lionel Messi provided his usual magic, scoring his record-setting 20th World Cup goal to open the account. However, the Blue Sharks proved their mettle, equalizing twice to force the game into extra time. Argentina eventually secured the win through Lisandro Martínez and a decisive late own goal. While Cape Verde exits the tournament, their courageous performance against the world’s top-ranked side will be remembered as one of the highlights of the 2026 competition