Argentina Survive Major Scare, Breaks Cape Verde Hearts in 3-2 Thriller

A dramatic 111th-minute own goal by Diney Borges spared reigning world champions Argentina from what would have been one of the biggest upsets in football history, as they narrowly scraped past debutants Cape Verde in an unforgettable Round of 32 clash.

Ranked 64th in the FIFA world rankings, the resilient African nation twice fought back from behind against the world number two side to force the game into a tense extra-time battle at the Miami Stadium.

The thousands of Argentine fans in attendance were brought to their feet in the 29th minute when captain Lionel Messi produced a trademark moment of magic. Controlling a long ball from Lisandro Martinez with absolute precision, Messi fired high into the net to score his 20th career World Cup goal and hand Argentina the lead.

However, Cape Verde—the smallest nation ever to feature in a World Cup knockout stage—refused to back down. In the second half, Deroy Duarte capitalized on a tight angle, driving a powerful strike through the legs of defender Lisandro Martinez and past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to pull off a stunning equalizer, sparking emotional celebrations in the stands.

With the score locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time, the match went into extra time. Just two minutes into the first period of extra time, Lisandro Martinez thought he had secured the victory for the holders when he latched onto Alexis Mac Allister’s flick from a corner and produced a clinical finish.

Yet, eleven minutes later, Cape Verde responded with one of the goals of the tournament. Sidny Lopes Cabral cut inside from the left side of the box and unleashed a spectacular curling strike that flew over a diving Emiliano Martinez into the top corner, leveling the score at 2-2.

The heartbreak for the underdogs arrived late in the second half of extra time, when Diney Borges inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net in the 111th minute. Despite the setback, Cape Verde nearly forced penalties four minutes before the final whistle when Cabral unleashed another brilliant strike, only to be denied by a world-class save from Emiliano Martinez.

While Argentina moves on to the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Cape Verde exits the tournament having left an indelible mark on the global stage.