FIFA World Cup

Round of 32

ARG Argentina Argentina - CPV Cabo Verde Cabo Verde

Argentina Argentina

Cabo Verde Cabo Verde

D. Borges
111'

103'
S. Lopes Cabral
L. Martinez
92'

59'
D. Duarte

L. Messi
29'

Miami Stadium(Sold out)

Drew Thomas Fischer

Full time: Argentina 3-2 Cabo Verde (aet)

An astonishing, gripping game and ultimately Argentina squeeze through. It's a match that somehow feels like both teams won and both teams lost, with Cabo Verde giving an incredible account of themselves. Argentina will now face Egypt in the round of 16 next week.

Full-time

120'

+ 1

Three minutes added on

Time is running out for Cabo Verde...

119'

So close!

Argentina struggle to deal with a cross from the right and Benchimol stretches to reach it but can't quite get the touch he needs!

115'

Yellow card

Gonzalo Montiel

Argentina edge ahead once more!

Messi's corner from the left finds Romero, who glances a header in at the back post! Normally you'd think this would be the decisive blow, but never write off this Cabo Verde team...

111'

Diney Borges

OWN GOAL!

3:2

Believe it or not...

...just over a year ago, Lopes Cabral was playing in Germany's third division for Viktoria Köln. Now he's scored a screamer at the World Cup against the reigning world champions.

106'

15 minutes left!

Will we have a winner or will there be penalties?

Kick-off!

Moment of the match!

Not even the goalscorer himself could believe it!

Half-time

105'

+ 2

Vozinha!

A loose ball falls to Messi inside the box... it looks like game over as he smashes a left-footed shot at goal, but Vozinha gets down low to his left to keep it out. He's now made eight saves in this game!

104'

Substitution

Gonzalo Montiel

Nahuel Molina

Wow!

They've fought back - again - and it's an absolute worldie! Receiving the ball on the left-hand corner of the penalty area, Lopes Cabral cuts inside and bends a stunning effort into the far corner. Incredible!

103'

Sidny Lopes Cabral

GOAL!

2:2

Assist:Y. Semedo

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

2 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

23.12 m

102'

Passing sequence

Cabo Verde have the ball and they're stroking it left to right and back again, but Argentina are compact and not allowing them through.

100'

Substitution

Yannick Semedo

Deroy Duarte

100'

Substitution

Benchimol

Kevin Pina

99'

Álvarez blocked

Messi's shot is blocked but the rebound falls to Álvarez, who shoots on the turn. His effort is blocked too, however.

96'

Cabo Verde applying pressure

Three consecutive corners, but they all come to nothing for the underdogs.

Breakthrough!

Messi whips in a corner from the left, Mac Allister flicks it on to the back post. Martínez is lurking to smash the ball high into the roof of the net.

92'

Lisandro Martinez

GOAL!

2:1

Assist:A. Mac Allister

Goal probability

12 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

12.3 m

91'

Peeeep!

Cabo Verde get the first half of extra time up and running.

Extra time

Full time: Argentina 1-1 Cabo Verde

Four games at this World Cup, four draws for Cabo Verde. They've now held teams of the calibre of Spain, Uruguay and Argentina, and have done so deservedly. While Argentina had more of the ball and more chances, the African island nation were organised, aggressive and fearless. We're headed to extra time!

End of second half

90'

+ 6

Vozinha to the rescue!

Messi's low, curling free-kick takes a deflection but Vozinha still manages to react, looping the ball up in the air. Álvarez wins the rebound but his header is straight at the goalkeeper.

90'

+ 4

Prime location

Messi is chopped down just outside the Cabo Verde penalty area, right of centre. It's the perfection position for a last-gasp free-kick winner...

90'

+ 1

Added time

There will be a minimum of eight additional minutes.

90'

Penalty appeal!

Messi floats a cross into the box for Mac Allister, whose header is blocked by a defender. He appeals for handball but it cannoned off the defender's head before hitting his arm, so the referee waves for play to continue.

89'

Messi probing

The No.10 dribbles into the box on the right, cuts inside and tries to play a one-two with Mac Allister, but the Liverpool midfielder's touch is heavy and a defender steps in to intercept.

Another fine display

Goalkeeper Vozinha is one of the main reasons why this one is on course for extra time.

85'

Substitution

Nicolás Tagliafico

Facundo Medina

84'

Substitution

Leandro Paredes

Rodrigo de Paul

83'

Holding their own

They may be the defending champions and have Messi in their side, but Cabo Verde have shown no sign of being intimidated.

Goal attempts

4off target

5on target

5off target

2on target

82'

So close!

Argentina drill a low ball across the face of goal. Fernández is lurking at the back post to tap it in but Lopes stretches out a leg and deflects it - only just - past the post. That was so close to an own goal there.

80'

Substitution

Hélio Varela

Jovane Cabral

80'

Substitution

Willy Semedo

Ryan Mendes

78'

Ambitious

Cabo Verde win a free-kick in a central position but it's a long way out. Pina nevertheless lines it up to shoot, but he doesn't catch the ball cleanly and it rolls out for a goal kick.

77'

And we're back

What surprises await us in the closing stages?

74'

Hydration break

With a little under 15 minutes left, Cabo Verde are still holding Argentina.

73'

Stunning!

Incredible - Vozinha isn't prepared, but the whistle has blown and Messi takes it, yet the goalkeeper somehow scrambles across to keep it out.

72'

Free-kick for Argentina

On the edge of the box, and Messi is preparing to take it...

68'

Yellow card

Kevin Pina

67'

Wide

A Fernández volley on the edge of the box trickles harmlessly wide.

67'

Substitution

Dailon Livramento

Nuno Da Costa

67'

Substitution

Jamiro Monteiro

Laros Duarte

63'

Substitution

Nico González

Thiago Almada

63'

Substitution

Julián Álvarez

Lautaro Martínez

63'

Vozinha!

Messi breaks and is one-on-one with the Cabo Verde goalkeeper, but he stands tall and denies him. Great stop, and we are still all square.

60'

Wow

Cabo Verde are back on level terms! They started well here at the start of the second period and, after a clever through ball from Mendes, Deroy Duarte buries into the corner the day before his birthday. What a way to celebrate!

59'

Deroy Duarte

GOAL!

1:1

Assist:R. Mendes

Goal probability

11 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11.3 m

55'

Not much in it

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

Of course, having Messi helps.

xGoals

0.37

0.15

Goals

54'

Save

Deroy Duarte has a sight of goal as the ball falls to him on the egde of the box. His shot is hit well, but Martínez gets down well to hold it. That was Cabo Verde's best chance so far.

50'

Over

Cabo Verde captain Mendes tries a volley from distance, but it goes well over the bar.

49'

Strong start

Cabo Verde have come out of the blocks quickly at the start of this period.

46'

Up and running

The second half is underway.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Argentina 1-0 Cabo Verde

Lionel Messi is the difference at the break. It was his wonderful touch and goal that broke the deadlock in a game that, while dominated by Argentina in terms of possession, has not produced many chances. Cabo Verde are still in this ahead of the second half.

Half-time

45'

Denied

Fernández gets a shot off from the edge of the box, but Vozinha gets down low to push the ball away to safety.

Genius

Sometimes, you have to sit back, watch and applaud. A lovely Messi goal has Argentina in front.

38'

Looking for a response

Cabo Verde are attempting to put Argentina under some pressure and are least moving up the pitch. No chances so far, though.

34'

Dominating

Argentina have the bit between their teeth now and look eager to turn the screw.

29'

Just like that

Give him an inch, and he will make the difference. Messi controls Martínez's ball over the top perfectly and fires beyond Vozinha for his seventh goal of this tournament and 20th at World Cups overall.

29'

Lionel Messi

GOAL!

1:0

Assist:L. Martinez

Goal probability

19 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

8.58 m

Close

This has been an evenly-matched affair so far.

25'

Hydration break

So far, it Cabo Verde have managed to continue the reigning champions, who have managed just one shot on target.

19'

Argentina controlling the ball better

This is to be expected.

Passes

156

19'

Save

Another Messi chance as he lines up a free-kick from around 30 yards. He gets it up and down over the wall, but Vozinha is there to collect it.

15'

Wide

Messi has his first chance of the game as he picks up the ball on the edge of the area, drives forward and drags an effort past the post from a tight angle. An early warning for Cabo Verde, though.

11'

Even early stages

While Argentina are dictating the game's tempo, Cabo Verde are standing strong defensively and looking to move forward when possible.

Looking to counter

Even in these opening stages, Cabo Verde have shown a willingness to try and break quickly.

Argentina with plenty of the ball

The favourites have seen the majority of the ball early on, as expected.

Underway

We are up and running in this one - can Cabo Verde pull off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history?

Kick-off!

10 minutes until kick-off

Not long until this match gets underway.

More on that Cabo Verde team

Cape Verde, meanwhile, make five changes to the team that drew with Saudi Arabia to secure progression to the knockout stages on their maiden participation. Amongst the returnees is Jovane Cabral, while brothers Laros and Deroy Duarte are both in the XI.

More on that Argentina team

Argentina made nine changes following their Matchday 2 victory over Austria going into their final group game against Jordan, but head coach Lionel Scaloni has now reverted back to his first-choice XI. Lionel Messi is obviously the main man up top, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (pictured) will be between the sticks.

Warm-ups underway

The 2022 World Cup winners are currently out on the pitch warming up, sporting some very snazzy training tops.

Starting line-up: Cabo Verde

Formation:4-1-4-1

Cabo Verde subs

Rosa, Dos Santos, Stopira, Costa, Pina, Pires, Paulo, Monteiro, Rodrigues, Semedo, Semedo, Arcanjo, Varela, Benchimol, Livramento

Starting line-up: Argentina

Formation:4-4-2

Argentina subs

Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Tagliafico, Montiel, Otamendi, Paredes, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, González, Álvarez, Simeone, Paz, López

Head-to-head record

This is the first ever meeting between Argentina and Cabo Verde. La Albiceleste have won all seven World Cup encounters with African sides since famously losing to Cameroon in the opening game of the 1990 tournament in Italy.

How they got here: Cabo Verde

World Cup debutants Cabo Verde have defied all odds to reach the knockout stages. A goalless draw with 2010 champions Spain set the tone, before a 2-2 draw with two-time winners Uruguay left them well-placed to secure a place in the round of 32. Another 0-0 stalemate with Saudi Arabia clinched second spot in Group H - and made them the first team to qualify with three draws since Chile in 1998.

How they got here: Argentina

One of only three teams to reach the knockout stages with a 100 percent record, holders Argentina kicked off the defence of their crown with a 3-0 win over Algeria before confirming their place in the round of 32 with a 2-0 victory over Austria. A 3-1 win over Jordan completed the set, with Lionel Messi - who already has six goals this summer - netting a record-extending 19th World Cup goal.

Welcome!

Follow all of the action as Argentina take on Cabo Verde in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32, kicking off at midnight CEST in Miami.