Argentina escaped one of the biggest scares of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by beating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time in a dramatic last-32 tie. Lionel Messi scored another historic goal at the World Cup but the defending champions were pushed to the limit by a fearless Cape Verde side who refused to budge.Even as Argentina advanced to the last 16, the controversy did not die down after the final whistle. Instead, fans flooded social media with admiration for Cape Verde’s extraordinary performance, saying the newcomers to the tournament deserved the world’s respect despite the heartbreaking setback.
Cape Verde pushes defending champions to the brink in unforgettable game
After Messi opened the scoring and scored his 20th World Cup goal, many Argentines expected to advance to the next round. Instead, Cape Verde responded with incredible determination. Deroy Duarte equalized in the second half before Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s lead in extra time.Towards the end of the game, Sidny Lopes Cabral hit a stunning long-range shot that left the fans in disbelief and equalized once again. Dini Borge scored an own goal from a corner kick and Argentina sealed the win, but Cape Verde continued to attack until the final whistle, narrowly missing a penalty.The result sent Argentina into the last 16, but many viewers felt the scoreline only told part of the story. Cape Verde, participating in the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time, fought with courage, discipline and belief against one of football’s great powers for more than 120 minutes.
Fans praise Cape Verde while criticizing Argentina after thrilling win
Supporters praised goalkeeper Wozniak, who made several crucial saves against Messi to frustrate the defending champions all night.One fan wrote: “100% success with the ball. Woznia has Argentina and Messi.” Another supporter supported Cape Verde’s strength, saying: “As far as I know, Cape Verde can beat Portugal at any time.”Some fans also pointed out how difficult things were for Argentina in this game. One post read: “Argentina needed extra time and two corner kicks to beat Cape Verde.” Many supporters believed Cape Verde’s performance was more important than the result. One fan wrote: “Argentina won the game but Cape Verde won our hearts.”Others used the game to criticize the defending champions. One viral reaction said: “Super proud of them. They exposed a team of fraud.” Another emotional message highlighted how Cape Verde’s inspiring campaign changed global perceptions of the country. The fan wrote: “The world is proud of these players from Cape Verde, and I believe more people in the world will know about this country now. They truly shook up the football world and proved their doubters wrong. Even Messi will never forget this special game in his life. “Another supporter summed up the sentiment on social media: “Vozinha and Cape Verde deserve a standing ovation tonight.” Argentina moved on with World Cup dreams, but Cape Verde left the tournament with a changed reputation. These World Cup debutants produced one of the greatest underdog performances at the 2026 World Cup, earning the admiration of the entire football world and proving they belong on the sport’s biggest stage.
