Messi's record-breaking brace rescues Argentina as Cape Verde push holders to extra time

Lionel Messi scored twice and Lisandro Martínez struck the decisive extra-time goal as Argentina survived a remarkable scare from first-time World Cup participants Cape Verde, winning 3-2 at Miami Stadium on Friday in the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The result sends Argentina through to the round of 16, where they will face Egypt on Tuesday, 7 July at Atlanta Stadium. It also extends their unbeaten run to 14 consecutive matches against nations appearing in their first World Cup.

Messi’s opener took his career World Cup tally to a record 20 goals, and he has now scored in eight consecutive World Cup matches — both marks his own. He has accounted for seven of Argentina’s 11 goals at this tournament and becomes the first player in history to score seven or more goals across multiple World Cup editions.

For long stretches, however, it was Cape Verde who threatened to produce the greatest upset in World Cup knockout history. Sidney Lopes Cabral’s equaliser in extra time — a curling right-footed finish from a tight angle on the left edge of the penalty area into the top right corner — briefly levelled the tie and had the tournament’s biggest shock within reach. Martínez then settled matters, first providing the assist for Messi’s goal with a precise ball from deep, and then scoring the goal that put Argentina ahead for good in extra time.

In goal for Cape Verde, 40-year-old Vozinha — who played his club football in the Portuguese second division with GD Chaves last season — produced a performance that will be remembered long after the tournament ends. He made eight saves against Argentina, including a point-blank stop to deny Messi, and leaves the competition with 25 saves in total, the most of any goalkeeper. In doing so, he joined Peter Shilton and Dino Zoff as the only goalkeepers in World Cup history to record two clean sheets at the age of 40 or older.

The contrast in pedigree between the two sides could hardly have been starker. Argentina entered the match ranked second in the world by FIFA, chasing a fourth World Cup title and a second in succession. Cape Verde, ranked 64th, were playing in the tournament for the first time. On the day, the gap between them was far narrower than those numbers suggested.