Argentina Advances to Round of 16 After Thrilling Victory Over Cape Verde

Argentina's Narrow Escape

The reigning champions, Argentina, faced a significant challenge in their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey, narrowly defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in a dramatic Round of 32 match. Captain Lionel Messi acknowledged the need for improvement in various aspects after the match, which featured a last-minute goal that secured their progression.

Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, but Argentina struggled to maintain their lead, allowing Cape Verde to equalize twice. The decisive moment came when Diney scored an own goal, ultimately sending Argentina into the knockout stage. Despite the victory, Messi emphasized the importance of not becoming complacent. "We put in a huge effort, but we need to focus on the positives and correct our mistakes," he stated.

Argentina was expected to win comfortably, yet Cape Verde, the smallest nation to reach this stage with a population of just 525,000, proved to be a formidable opponent. Messi noted the difficulty of the match, stating, "We knew it was going to be tough; this is a knockout tournament, and every game is challenging."

Looking Ahead

As Argentina prepares for their next match against Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday, concerns about Messi's fitness arise. The 39-year-old played the full 120 minutes despite sustaining a head injury that caused noticeable swelling. He required an ice pack post-match but remained on the field to celebrate the team's advancement.