Argentina's path to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup required passing a tough test. In the round of 32 match taking place in Miami on Saturday (4/7/2026), Lionel Scaloni's squad was forced to work extra hard before finally subduing Cape Verde with a narrow 3-2 score in extra time.
The captain, Lionel Messi, openly admitted that their opponents performed beyond expectations. Cape Verde's defensive discipline and their courage in engaging in an open game made it difficult for the defending champions to dominate the match. Despite taking an early lead, Argentina was repeatedly put under pressure by organized counter-attacks.
"We did manage to score first, but our opponents showed their quality, having previously held strong teams like Spain and Uruguay to draws," Messi said after the match. The Ballon d'Or winner added that the intensity of Cape Verde's attacks forced his team to give their absolute best until the final second.
The fiercely contested match even triggered tension on the pitch. At the start of extra time, with the score tied at 2-2, Messi showed gestures of frustration due to a failed passing coordination with Julián Álvarez. That moment reflected the immense pressure felt by the Albiceleste to maintain their championship ambitions amid the surprise posed by the dark horse team.
