FIFA World Cup

FT Friday, July 3, 2026
Cape Verde WWDDD 2
–
Argentina WWWWW 3
1st2nd3rd4thT
CPV01102
ARG10113
Hard Rock Stadium · 64,478 att. · FOX

Match Report

Ronald Wittek/Shutterstock

Messi and Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time thriller, advancing to World Cup Round of 16

Diney Borges' own goal in extra time saw Argentina take the victory, as Lionel Messi extended his record with his 20th World Cup goal..

Full story at ESPN →

Team Stats

12
Fouls
13
1
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
2
Offsides
3
8
Corner Kicks
8
8
Saves
3
36.4
Possession
63.6
16
SHOTS
22
5
ON GOAL
10
0.3
On Target %
0.5
0
Penalty Goals
0
0
Penalty Kicks Taken
0
409
Accurate Passes
779
476
Passes
850
0.9
Pass Completion %
0.9
5
Accurate Crosses
6
20
Crosses
15
0.3
Cross %
0.4
51
Long Balls
39
23
Accurate Long Balls
25
0.5
Long Balls %
0.6
6
Blocked Shots
7
7
Effective Tackles
13
19
Tackles
22
0.4
Tackle %
0.6
9
Interceptions
9
26
Effective Clearances
24
26
Clearances
24

Highlights

00:38 Gibbs: Cape Verde exposed Argentina's vulnerabilities Watch on ESPN 00:39 Chaos in Cape Verde as stunning goal shocks Argentina Watch on ESPN 00:48 Buenos Aires goes wild for Messi's opening goal vs. Cape Verde Watch on ESPN

Lineups

ARG · 4-4-2

  1. 23Emiliano MartínezG
  2. 6Lisandro MartínezCD-L
  3. 13Cristian RomeroCD-R
  4. 25Facundo MedinaLB
  5. 26Nahuel MolinaRB
  6. 24Enzo FernándezCM-L
  7. 20Alexis Mac AllisterCM-R
  8. 16Thiago AlmadaLM
  9. 7Rodrigo De PaulRM
  10. 22Lautaro MartínezCF-L
  11. 10Lionel MessiCF-R

CPV · 4-1-4-1

  1. 1VozinhaG
  2. 3Diney BorgesCD-L
  3. 4Pico LopesCD-R
  4. 6Kevin PinaDM
  5. 13Sidny Lopes CabralLB
  6. 22Steven MoreiraRB
  7. 14Deroy DuarteCM-L
  8. 15Laros DuarteCM-R
  9. 7Jovane CabralLM
  10. 20Ryan MendesRM
  11. 21Nuno da CostaF

Timeline

  1. 25' Delay in match for a drinks break.
  2. 25'
  3. 27' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  4. 27'
  5. 29' Goal! Argentina 1, Cabo Verde 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner. Assisted by Lisandro Martínez with a through ball.
  6. 59' Goal! Argentina 1, Cabo Verde 1. Deroy Duarte (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Mendes.
  7. 63' Substitution, Argentina. Julián Alvarez replaces Lautaro Martínez.
  8. 64' Substitution, Argentina. Nico González replaces Thiago Almada.
  9. 67' Substitution, Cabo Verde. Jamiro Monteiro replaces Laros Duarte.
  10. 67' Substitution, Cabo Verde. Dailon Livramento replaces Nuno da Costa.
  11. 68' Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  12. 73' Delay in match for a drinks break.
  13. 73'
  14. 76' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  15. 76'
  16. 80' Substitution, Cabo Verde. Willy Semedo replaces Ryan Mendes.
  17. 80' Substitution, Cabo Verde. Hélio Varela replaces Jovane Cabral.
  18. 84' Substitution, Argentina. Leandro Paredes replaces Rodrigo De Paul.
  19. 86' Substitution, Argentina. Nicolás Tagliafico replaces Facundo Medina because of an injury.
  20. 90' First Half Extra Time begins Argentina 1, Cabo Verde 1.
  21. 92' Goal! Argentina 2, Cabo Verde 1. Lisandro Martínez (Argentina) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Alexis Mac Allister with a headed pass following a corner.
  22. 100' Substitution, Cabo Verde. Yannick Semedo replaces Deroy Duarte.
  23. 100' Substitution, Cabo Verde. Gilson Benchimol replaces Kevin Pina.
  24. 103' Goal! Argentina 2, Cabo Verde 2. Sidny Cabral (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Yannick Semedo.
  25. 104' Substitution, Argentina. Gonzalo Montiel replaces Nahuel Molina.
  26. 105'+4'
  27. 105'
  28. 111' Own Goal by Diney Borges, Cabo Verde. Argentina 3, Cabo Verde 2.
  29. 115' Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  30. 120'+4'

FIFA World Cup News

All news
ESPN ESPN Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026 ESPN provides game-by-game analysis of Lionel Messi's performances for Inter Miami and Argentina. News Adriana Garcia Lionel Messi: Argentina's 2026 World Cup final heartbreak "part of my football journey" Lionel Messi has accepted that Argentina's 2026 World Cup extra-time defeat to Spain was a part of his football journey. News Associated Press Asian football chief backs Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president The Asian Football Confederation endorsed Gianni Infantino on Friday for a fourth term as FIFA president. News Associated Press AFC president unclear on backing for Infantino's FIFA reelection The president of the AFC gave no hint Thursday about the body's support or opposition to the reelection of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president.