Lionel Messi led Argentina to the Round of 16 of the World Cup at the expense of Cape Verde with great difficulty.
Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in a Round of 32 match that extended to extra time.
The goals for the Tango were scored by: Lionel Messi, Lisandro Martinez, and Deni Borges (own goal).
Meanwhile, Deroy Duarte and Abel Cabral scored the goals for Cape Verde.
Argentina qualified for the Round of 16 to face Egypt next Tuesday in an anticipated match.
Egypt secured its spot in the Round of 16 by defeating Australia on penalties.
Yasser Ibrahim's dream
Yasser Ibrahim, the defender of the Egyptian national team, said before the start of the World Cup in statements on MBC Egypt: "I hope to face the Argentine national team in the Round of 16 of the World Cup."
The Al-Ahly defender explained the details of what happened between him and Lionel Messi, the star of Argentina and Inter Miami, during the American club's match in the Club World Cup, saying: "The match between Al-Ahly and Inter Miami was nearing its end, and Marwan Atia suffered a muscle strain and fell to the ground, while Inter Miami players continued playing and almost scored a goal against Al-Ahly."
He continued, "I spoke with them, but it was a tense situation on the field, and I got into an argument with Lionel Messi, but he didn't understand what I was saying because he speaks Spanish."
He concluded his statements, "I don't like losing, Messi is the best player in the world, but on the field, it's something else, and I want to win just like Messi does."
Now Yasser Ibrahim's dream has come true, and Egypt will play against Argentina in the Round of 16, as Messi will compete again after their famous encounter in the Club World Cup.
Messi continued to break records in World Cup competitions, after scoring the opening goal for Argentina against Cape Verde.
Messi scored for the eighth consecutive match in the World Cup, after previously breaking the record against Jordan as the first player to score in 7 consecutive matches.
Messi topped the current edition's top scorers with 7 goals, surpassing Frenchman Kylian Mbappe (6 goals) and Norwegian Erling Haaland (5 goals).
Messi reached his 20th goal in his World Cup appearances.
Messi's goal against Cape Verde raised his tally to 12 goal contributions in World Cup knockout stages (6 goals and 6 assists), making him the most contributing player in World Cup knockout stages since 1966, surpassing Pele and Mbappe (11 contributions each).
video:1
Formation
Lionel Messi returned to Argentina's starting lineup again for his 30th World Cup appearance against Cape Verde after being on the bench in the previous round against Jordan.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde relied on the experience of captain Ryan Mendes to lead their attack, in addition to Vozinha in goal against Argentina.
Match description
The Argentine national team started the match by imposing its control over the course of play and possession of the ball, threatening Cape Verde's goal early on, as Lionel Messi missed a clear chance in the 14th minute after dribbling past his defender inside the penalty area, before shooting the ball wide of the post, and goalkeeper Vozinha brilliantly saved a free kick executed by the Tango captain.
The Argentine national team continued its pressure until it succeeded in opening the scoring in the 29th minute, after Lisandro Martinez sent a precise long pass to Lionel Messi, who went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and placed the ball in the roof of the net, announcing Argentina's lead with a goal to nil.
Messi puts Argentina ahead#WorldCup2026 | #Mundial2026 | #WorldCup
#beINWC26 | #FIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/oahkRSRYR2
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 3, 2026
The Argentine national team tried to enhance its lead before the end of the first half, but goalkeeper Vozinha continued his brilliance, saving a powerful shot from Enzo Fernandez from outside the penalty area, ending the first half with the Tango leading by a clean goal.
Cape Verde started the second half better and almost equalized in the 54th minute when Deroy Duarte took advantage of a rebound and shot powerfully, but Emiliano Martinez excelled and cleared it with a great reaction.
Cape Verde equalized in the 59th minute when Ryan Mendes sent a low cross to Deroy Duarte inside the penalty area, who shot it directly into the left corner of Argentina's goal, announcing a 1-1 draw.
Deroy Duarte surprises Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and equalizes for Cape Verde
📦 Subscribe now 👇
📱 https://t.co/alkogGtHdW#WorldCup2026 | #Mundial2026 | #WorldCup#beINWC26 | #FIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/dWQ6yVXRbK
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 3, 2026
The Argentine national team responded by making attacking substitutions, with Lionel Scaloni bringing on Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Gonzalez, before Enzo Fernandez missed a dangerous chance with a powerful shot that went wide of the post, and Messi continued to threaten the goal, but Vozinha denied him from scoring again with a remarkable save from a one-on-one inside the penalty area.
The Argentine national team continued its pressure in the final minutes, as Vozinha saved another brilliant free kick executed by Messi, and Nicolas Gonzalez missed a clear chance with a header in front of the goal, while Facundo Medina was injured and left the field, with Nicolas Tagliafico replacing him.
The referee added eight minutes of stoppage time, and the Argentine national team continued its intense pressure through crosses and corners in an attempt to snatch the winning goal, but Cape Verde's defense and goalkeeper Vozinha held firm until the end of regular time, leading to extra time.
The Argentine national team opened the first extra time with a goal in the 92nd minute, after Lionel Messi executed a precise corner kick, which Alexis Mac Allister headed to Lisandro Martinez, who placed the ball in the net, putting the Tango ahead again with a 2-1 lead.
The Argentine national team tried to extend its lead, as Julian Alvarez shot from inside the penalty area, but the defense blocked it, and Lionel Messi missed a chance to go one-on-one with goalkeeper Vozinha, who continued his brilliance and denied the Argentine captain from scoring the third goal.
Cape Verde returned to the match atmosphere in the 103rd minute, after Sidney Lopez Cabral received a good pass and launched a wonderful shot from outside the penalty area that settled in the top corner of Emiliano Martinez's goal, equalizing 2-2.
The Argentine national team did not give up and continued its pressure at the start of the second extra time, until it won a corner kick in the 111th minute, which Deni Borges failed to clear, turning the ball by mistake into his own net, giving Argentina the lead again with a 3-2 result.
Argentine Cristian Romero scores the third goal against Cape Verde
📦 Subscribe now 👇
📱 https://t.co/alkogGtHdW#WorldCup2026 | #Mundial2026 | #WorldCup#beINWC26 | #FIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/7tfpUMy3z6
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 4, 2026
Cape Verde intensified its attempts in the final minutes and won a direct free kick on the edge of the penalty area, but Emiliano Martinez excelled and brilliantly saved Sidney Lopez Cabral's shot, before Nicolas Tagliafico received treatment after an injury in the final moments of the match.
