Defending champions Argentina have narrowly avoided one of the greatest upsets in football history, securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup Round of 32. The African underdogs pushed the holders all the way into extra time in a thrilling encounter that will live long in tournament folklore.
A Five-Goal Thriller
Lionel Messi, the top goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history, opened the scoring for Argentina with a clinical close-range finish after a superb first touch. While many expected the reigning champions to dominate from there, Cape Verde fought back valiantly in the second half.
Midfielder Deroy Duarte, who plays his club football in Bulgaria, chose the grandest stage to score his first international goal in 36 appearances, netting a brilliant equaliser to stun the Argentine crowd. Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, José Évora Dias, widely known as Vozinha, kept his side in the game with a series of vital saves to force extra time.
Argentina regained the lead early in the extra period, but the Blue Sharks refused to back down. Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a spectacular equaliser, firing a powerful strike into the top corner of the far post. Ultimately, a late own goal settled the tie in Argentina’s favour, bringing a heartbreaking end to Cape Verde’s dream run.
A Historic Campaign for the Underdogs
Despite the defeat, Cape Verde emerged from the tournament with immense credit. As the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup knockout round, the island nation of 500,000 people went toe-to-toe with an Argentine side representing a nation of 48 million.
The Blue Sharks entered the match in poor form, having won only one of their last nine international fixtures, with their last competitive victory dating back to October 2025. However, their performances in the tournament, including a shutout against European champions Spain in their opener, captured the world’s attention.
Before the match, goalkeeper Vozinha, who plays in the Portuguese second division, had expressed his dream of facing Messi and hopefully getting his jersey. On the pitch, he and his teammates proved they belonged on the same stage as the global icons.
Pride in Defeat
Following the final whistle, Cape Verde head coach Bubista expressed immense pride in his squad’s historic achievement. He noted that despite being a small nation, they proved they could compete with the very best teams in the world during their debut World Cup appearance.
Defender Pico Lopes echoed those sentiments, highlighting the global impact of their run. He remarked that football fans around the world would no longer have to ask where Cape Verde is, as the team has firmly put the nation on the map.
While Argentina march on to continue their title defence, Cape Verde return home as heroes, having delivered one of the most spirited performances in World Cup history.