Argentina escaped one of the biggest scares of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time in a dramatic Round of 32 clash. Lionel Messi scored another historic World Cup goal but the defending champions were pushed to their limits by a fearless Cape Verde side who refused to back down.Even when Argentina booked their place in the Round of 16, the debate did not die even after the final whistle. Fans instead flooded social media timelines with admiration for Cape Verde’s extraordinary performance, saying the tournament’s newcomers deserved respect around the world despite the heartbreaking defeat.
Cape Verde pushed the defending champions to the finish in an unforgettable contest
Many expected Argentina to go through to the next round after Messi opened the scoring with his 20th World Cup goal. Instead, Cape Verde responded with incredible determination. Deroy Duarte brought his side level in the second half before Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s lead early in extra time.When the game seemed over, Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning long-range shot that left the fans in disbelief and tied the game again. Argentina finally secured victory after a corner kick ended in an own goal by Diney Borge, but Cape Verde continued to attack until the final whistle and almost forced a penalty.The result sent Argentina into the Round of 16, but many viewers felt the scoreline only told part of the story. Cape Verde, playing in its first World Cup qualifying match, met one of football’s greatest powers with courage, discipline and belief for more than 120 minutes.
Fans praise Cape Verde while criticizing Argentina after thrilling win
Supporters heaped praise on goalkeeper Vozinha, who made several key saves against Messi and frustrated the defending champions on the night.A fan wrote: “100% successful dribbles. Vozinha owns Argentina and Messi.” Another supporter supported Cape Verde’s quality saying: “From what I’ve seen, this Cape Verde team can beat Portugal any day.”Several fans also pointed out how difficult Argentina found the competition. One post read, “Argentina needed extra time and 2 corner kicks to beat Cape Verde” Many supporters thought the result mattered less than Cape Verde’s performance. One fan wrote: “Argentina won the game but Cape Verde won our hearts.”Others used the match to criticize the reigning champions. One viral reaction stated: “Super proud of them. They exposed a fraudulent team.” Another emotional message highlighted how Cape Verde’s inspiring run had changed global perceptions of the nation. The fan wrote: “The world is so proud of these players from Cape Verde and I believe that more people in the world will definitely know about this country now. They really shook up the football world and proved the doubters wrong about them. Even Messi will never forget this particular match in his life.”Another supporter summed up the mood on social media by writing: “Vozinha and Cape Verde deserve a standing ovation tonight.” Argentina move forward with their World Cup dream still alive, but Cape Verde leave the tournament with their reputation transformed. The tournament’s debutants have won admiration across the football world after producing one of the biggest underdog performances of the 2026 World Cup, proving they belong on the sport’s biggest stage.
