Cape Verde’s historic World Cup journey ended in a five-goal thriller as the Blue Sharks fell 3-2 to defending champions Argentina in the last 32. The archipelago nation of just 500,000 inhabitants pushed Lionel Messi’s side to the limit in Miami, scoring twice through Rotterdam-born forwards before succumbing to a late header.
The defeat brought to a close a remarkable debut campaign that captured global attention. Cape Verde secured their place in the knockout stage—the smallest country ever to do so—with a disciplined 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia, following an opening goalless stalemate with European champions Spain and Kevin Pina’s wondergoal against Uruguay.
Rotterdam’s rollercoaster
While the match took place in Miami, the emotional centre of gravity lay 4,500 miles away in Rotterdam. The Dutch city, home to 25,000 Cape Verdeans who call it the “10th island,” hosted 1,600 fans at Club Annabel to watch six local-born players represent their parents’ homeland.
Among them was former international Jeffry Fortes, the 37-year-old Den Bosch right-back who earned 26 caps before his involvement ended in 2023. “As a professional footballer it’s a disappointment to be on the sidelines,” Fortes said. “But as a Cape Verdean, I’m prouder than ever. We can’t take this for granted. This is the biggest and best moment ever.”
The Rotterdam congregation witnessed a dramatic see-saw battle. After Messi opened the scoring, Deroy Duarte—born in the city—levelled to spark “disbelief and joy” among the travelling support. Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s lead before Sidny Lopes Cabral, another Rotterdam native, curled in an equaliser from an “near-impossible position.” The venue shook with celebration. Diney Borges’s decisive header ended the resistance, leaving Fortes and the 1,600 fans “drained, but applauding under Rotterdam’s skyscrapers.”
A nation transformed
The team’s success has transformed daily life across the nine inhabited islands. National colours now appear on houses, cars and motorbikes in a display of patriotic fervour rarely seen before the tournament. Goalkeeper Vozinha has gained 17.5 million Instagram followers during the past fortnight, becoming an unlikely social media star.
“Before the World Cup, you would mostly see our flag at the Presidential Palace or on some public buildings. But now, everyone is proudly displaying it,” said Janice Miranda, who joined thousands on Praia’s Gamboa Beach to watch the decisive Saudi Arabia match. The beach hosted one of the country’s largest viewing parties during the Festival da Gamboa, normally a music event but converted into a football celebration.
The government declared a half-day holiday for the Spain fixture, though according to local journalist Joao Pina, “no one worked that day.” Teacher Anibele Lizardo described the atmosphere as a constant festival. “They told us we had a 1% chance to win but we don’t care about the odds. We just want to party,” said Lizardo. “Before this, no one knew where Cape Verde was. Now people will have the curiosity to see Cape Verde, to learn about the culture and how we, such a small country, are making such big waves.”
Diaspora foundations
Cape Verde’s achievement carries extra significance given the country lacks a professional domestic league. First attempting World Cup qualification only in 2000, the federation has built success through smart recruitment of diaspora players—many discovered in Rotterdam—and facilitating moves to Portuguese clubs.
“For an away game in Africa, we’d sometimes fly all the way up to Europe and back down again, just to save on flights,” recalled Tony Varela, a former Sparta player now coaching at PSV’s academy who helped pioneer the diaspora link. “Most of our players were playing in the islands’ own league. That has completely changed. Now they play in Europe.”
Dailon Livramento, the striker whose four goals in qualifying helped carry Cape Verde to their first World Cup, emerged from this pipeline. His brother Jerzy Rocha Livramento, a rapper with Dutch hip-hop group Broederliefde, paid tribute to the early pioneers: “They brought us where we are now. Some had to buy their own plane tickets. They did it purely out of love for Cabo and we’re thankful for that.”
Vozinha, despite the defeat, fulfilled a lifelong ambition sharing the pitch with Messi. “Sharing the pitch with Messi is a dream,” he said following the Saudi Arabia result. “And I’ll proudly tell my kids I played against him one day.” Regardless of the Miami scoreline, the Blue Sharks return home as national heroes, having secured their place in football folklore.