Argentina vs. Cape Verde Match Recap
On July 4, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in a Round of 32 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The game proved historic because it ended in extra time following an own goal by a Cape Verde player.
Pre-Match Overview
Both teams entered the match with strong showings in the group stage. Argentina, who won all three group matches:
- against Algeria (3-0)
- against Austria (2-0)
- against Jordan (3-1)
were in excellent form. Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace versus Austria, continued to showcase his skill. Key players also included Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez, who netted crucial goals during the group stage.
On the other side, Cape Verde—who drew with Spain (0-0), Uruguay (2-2), and Saudi Arabia (0-0) in the group stage—sought to surprise their opponent. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, brought experience to the pitch but faced the tough challenge of stopping Argentina's attack.
The match unfolded with high tension. In the 29th minute, Lionel Messi opened the scoring with the first goal. However, in the 59th minute, Duarte equalized for Cape Verde. Argentina regained the lead in the 92nd minute when Lautaro Martinez scored their second goal. But Cape Verde responded, and in the 103rd minute, Lopes Cabral leveled the score at 2-2.
Extra time delivered a dramatic finish. In the 85th minute, Argentine defender Nahuel Molina was forced to leave the field due to injury and was replaced by Nicolas Tagliafico. The decisive moment came when Cape Verde defender Diney Borges scored an own goal, handing Argentina a 3-2 victory. FIFA officially recorded this goal as an own goal by Borges.
This match marked a significant step in the tournament, as Argentina advanced to the Round of 16. Winning such a tense game highlights the strength and experience of the Argentine squad while also showing that surprises remain possible in later matches. Meanwhile, results from other games—including Morocco's penalty shootout win over the Netherlands—demonstrate the high level of competition in the tournament, which could affect future performances. Canada also showed their strength by beating South Africa, adding intrigue to the upcoming rounds.
As Argentina progresses in the tournament, fans are eager to analyze the team's performance and strategies. For a deeper insight into the upcoming challenges and betting insights for Argentina's next matches, check out our detailed match preview and betting odds, which provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect in the knockout stages.