Argentina found it “dark” against the excellent and “tough” Cape Verde, who tied twice and led the match to extra time, but in the end found a way to reach the victory with 3-2 in the extra 30 minutes (1-1 in regular time), getting with great… effort the “ticket” to the “16” of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Egypt (7/7, 19:00).
After the first 15 minutes, Argentina began to increase “speeds” having two finals with Messi in the 15th minute (slightly offside) and in the 19th minute (blocked by Vozinha). In the 29th minute, the goal came for the “albiceleste”, when, after an amazing assist from Lisandro Martinez that “cut” the Cape Verdean defense in two, Messi made a tremendous control and immediately scored for Argentina’s 1-0, reaching 20 goals in a World Cup!

In the 45th minute, a shot by Enzo Fernandes found Vozinha ready, with the scene changing dramatically at the start of the second half, where Cape Verde began to become much more dangerous. In the 53rd minute, Emiliano Martinez blocked Deroy Duarte’s shot, but he could not do the same in the 59th minute, when the African team’s striker executed exemplary after Mendes’s assist, tying the score at 1-1. 

Then… Vozinha took action, making incredible saves on Messi’s attempts in the 63rd and 72nd minutes (direct free kick), while in the 81st minute Pico Lopes saved a sure goal in front of the Cape Verdean goal.

Vozinha was “denied” the goal again in the 90’+5′ on Messi’s direct foul, to lead the match to the extra 30 minutes. There, Argentina came in stronger and in the 92′ reached a second goal. From a corner kick by Messi, McAllister took the first header and Lisandro Martinez with a terrible execution from a wide position made it 2-1 for Argentina. Despite the “shock” the Africans did not… give up and in the 103′ they brought the match back to a draw, with an incredible shot by Lopez Cabral from a very wide position that made it 2-2, “freezing” Argentina again!

The solution for Argentina ultimately came from… the air and again from one of their own stoppers. From a corner kick by Messi in the 111th minute, Romero beat everyone in the air with a header and made it 3-2 with a header, “redeeming” his team. Correspondingly… the intervention in the 116th minute by Emiliano Martinez on the terrible direct foul by López Cabral was also redemptive for Scaloni’s team, giving his team the victory and qualification.

Referee : Drew Fisher
Yellow Cards : 115′ Montiel – 68′ Lenini
Suppressions : –

The lineups of the two teams:
ARGENTINA (Lionel Scaloni): Emiliano Martinez, Molina (104′ Montiel), Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Medina (85′ l.t. Tagliafico), McAllister, Enzo Fernandez, De Paul (84′ Paredes), Almada (64′ N. Gonzalez), Messi, Lautaro Martinez (63′ Alvarez).
CAPE GREEN (Bubista): Vozinha, Moreira, Pico, Deeney, Cabral (80′ Varela), Lenini (100′ Bencimol), Mendes (80′ Willy Semedo), Deroy Duarte (100′ Yannick Semedo), Laros Duarte (67′ Monteiro), Cabral, Da Costa (67′ Livramento).