Argentina narrowly escaped a shocking elimination in the Round of 32, needing extra time to overcome World Cup debutants Cape Verde and secure their progression to the Round of 16. The reigning champions held on for a tense victory, anxiously awaiting the final whistle to confirm their advancement.

Goals from Lionel Messi, Lisandro Martínez and an own goal by Diney Borges ensured Lionel Scaloni’s side booked a last-16 clash with Egypt next Tuesday in Atlanta.

Miami Stadium was packed with around 65,000 Argentine supporters, transforming the venue into a sea of blue and white. The atmosphere was electric—fans sang in unison, echoing the traditional chants made famous by Argentine supporters since the 1950s.

Argentina started with intensity, creating their first real threat in the 14th minute when Lionel Messi’s shot went just wide of Vozinha’s left post.

Cape Verde began energetically but retreated deep into their half after the first quarter-hour, conceding possession to Argentina and focusing on defence.

The Albiceleste kept pressing relentlessly. In the 16th minute, Messi tested Vozinha with a free kick, and two minutes later Thiago Almada’s dangerous cross narrowly missed an Argentine touch. Argentina’s dominance grew increasingly apparent.

Following a hydration break, Messi broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a sublime first touch on Lisandro Martínez’s pass before calmly finishing with his left foot past Vozinha to give Argentina a 1-0 lead.

It marked Messi’s eighth consecutive World Cup match with a goal and his 20th overall in the competition. The Argentine captain has now scored in every stage of the tournament—group stage, Round of 32, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.

The goal sent Miami Stadium into raptures and eased the mounting pressure on Argentina, who had been attacking relentlessly from the start. It also forced Cape Verde to venture forward for the first time. Even the tireless Argentine supporters could finally breathe more easily after a half-hour of growing tension.

By halftime, the stadium resonated with the iconic chant of Argentine fans, filling the air with emotion even as the pace of the match slowed. Argentina went into the break with a well-deserved advantage.

After the restart, Cape Verde looked rejuvenated. In the 53rd minute, Deroy Duarte forced Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez into his first meaningful save of the night after a quiet first half for the Argentine keeper.

Just five minutes later, Cape Verde stunned the champions. Ryan Mendes charged down the right flank and squared the ball to Duarte, whose low strike slipped through Lisandro Martínez’s legs and beat Dibu to make it 1-1.

The equaliser silenced the crowd momentarily, but Argentine fans quickly resumed their chants, singing passionately as if nothing had changed. The team’s confidence remained high—perhaps excessively so.

Argentina almost responded instantly. Messi found himself one-on-one with Vozinha but fired straight at the Cape Verde goalkeeper, who produced another crucial save. It seemed the captain might have chosen power over precision.

Scaloni reacted by bringing on Julián Álvarez and Nico González for Lautaro Martínez and Thiago Almada, both of whom had struggled to make an impact.

In the 72nd minute, Vozinha continued his heroic display. As Messi prepared to take a free kick near the top of the box, the referee allowed play to resume while Vozinha was still positioning his wall. Messi curled the ball toward the top corner, but Vozinha managed to palm it away with a spectacular save.

By the time of the second hydration break, Argentina had regained control but faced growing anxiety as the minutes ticked away with the score still level.

Television cameras captured familiar faces in the stands—David Beckham, Inter Miami co-owner, NBA legend Manu Ginóbili, Diego Simeone and Javier Pastore—all there to watch Messi in action.

Argentina nearly restored their lead when Nico González sent in a perfect cross to Julián Álvarez, who only needed to tap into an empty net, but Pico Lopes made a stunning block to deny him.

The Albiceleste kept attacking in waves while Cape Verde defended with courage and organisation, throwing everything into keeping the score tied. Scaloni’s men sent in crosses and fired shots repeatedly, but Cape Verde held firm, parking what seemed like an entire fleet in front of goal.

Vozinha denied Cristian Romero late on, and in stoppage time Messi’s free kick was again stopped comfortably by the veteran keeper.

Remarkably, Cape Verde completed four World Cup matches without losing in normal time.

At the start of extra time, however, their resistance finally broke. After a corner, the ball fell to Lisandro Martínez, who smashed it past Vozinha to restore Argentina’s lead. VAR reviewed the goal but confirmed it moments later.

Argentina sensed an opportunity as Cape Verde began to tire visibly. Coach Pedro Leitão Brito made changes, bringing on Yannick Semedo for Duarte and Gilson Bechimol for Kevin Pina in search of another miracle.

And incredibly, that miracle arrived. Just before the extra-time interval, Sidny Lopes Cabral unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box that flew into the top corner past Dibu Martínez.

Cabral’s celebration was pure emotion—he sprinted into the stands to embrace the fans. Referee Drew Fischer wisely chose not to show a yellow card, recognising the significance of the moment.

The goal left the entire stadium stunned. Argentina had switched off briefly, and Cape Verde capitalised. For the first time all night, the 65,000 Argentine fans fell silent.

Argentina pushed forward again, but Vozinha pulled off another stunning save to deny Gonzalo Montiel, who had replaced Nahuel Molina.

Messi, visibly exhausted, stayed on the pitch as Scaloni clearly prepared for the possibility of a penalty shootout.

In the 110th minute, Argentina finally sealed the win. Messi’s corner found Cristian “Cuti” Romero, whose header made it 3-2 after an intense battle.

It was a hard-fought, draining victory—one that demanded every last bit of energy from the world champions.

Cape Verde still had one final opportunity. In the 115th minute, Dibu Martínez made a sensational save from a free kick that looked destined for the net, prompting the crowd to erupt in chants of “Dibuuu! Dibuuu!”

Moments later, the referee’s final whistle confirmed Argentina’s escape. The champions avoided penalties—but only just.

Argentina advanced to the Round of 16 after a gruelling contest, while Cape Verde departed their first World Cup with immense pride, having delivered one of the tournament’s most inspiring underdog stories.

As Thierry Henry aptly summed it up: “Cape Verde lost the game, but won our hearts.”