Duarte equalises and Vozinha twice denies Messi as Cape Verde stun Argentina in World Cup last 32

Cape Verde levelled against Argentina in the round of 32 at Miami Stadium on Friday, with Deroy Duarte’s 59th-minute close-range finish drawing the Blue Sharks even — and goalkeeper Vozinha then twice denying Lionel Messi to keep the lowest-ranked remaining team in the tournament alive.

Duarte’s goal, his first ever for Cape Verde, came from close range after Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could not get across in time. It was a moment of history for the smallest nation to have reached this stage of the competition, appearing at the FIFA World Cup for the very first time.

Argentina responded quickly and had the chance to restore their lead in the 63rd minute, but 40-year-old Vozinha produced a point-blank stop to deny a darting Messi. The veteran goalkeeper repeated the feat in the 72nd minute, this time pushing away a Messi free-kick struck from just outside the penalty area. Vozinha had recorded four saves against Argentina by that point.

The stakes could scarcely be higher. Cape Verde entered the match at +1080 odds to advance, and the two sides are separated by 66 places in the FIFA world rankings. Should the Blue Sharks hold on and win, it would represent the largest upset in the history of the World Cup knockout stage since FIFA rankings were introduced — eclipsing every previous giant-killing in the competition’s modern era.

Cape Verde are the third-smallest country ever to compete at a men’s World Cup, and their run to the last 32 already stands as a landmark achievement for a nation of their size. A victory over the reigning champions would rewrite the record books entirely.