Guwahati: Lionel Messi‘s record-breaking 20th FIFA World Cup goal helped defending Argentina survive a spirited challenge from tournament debutants Cape Verde, securing a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory in the Round of 32 and booking a place in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a clinical finish, registering his seventh goal of the tournament. The strike not only extended his FIFA World Cup tally to a record 20 goals but also made him the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. The Argentina captain now leads the race for the Golden Boot with seven goals.
Despite taking the lead, Argentina were pushed to the brink by an impressive Cape Verde side making its maiden FIFA World Cup appearance. The African nation refused to be overawed, with Deroy Duarte drawing his side level just before the hour mark to send the contest into a tense finale.
Neither team could find a winner in regulation time, forcing the knockout clash into extra time.
Argentina regained the advantage early in the additional period when Lisandro Martínez found the net, but Cape Verde responded once again. Left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning curling effort to level the score at 2-2, raising hopes of one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
The decisive moment came in the second half of extra time. Messi’s dangerous corner created confusion inside the penalty area before Cristian Romero’s header took a deflection off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and ended up in the net, handing Argentina a dramatic winner.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez then produced a crucial late save to deny Cape Verde an equaliser, ensuring the defending champions held on to their narrow lead.
Although Cape Verde’s World Cup journey ended in defeat, the tournament debutants earned widespread praise for their fearless display. Ranked well below Argentina, the African side matched the reigning champions for long periods with disciplined defending, determined attacking play and remarkable resilience.
With the hard-fought victory, Argentina progress to the Round of 16, where they will face Egypt in another highly anticipated knockout clash. Messi, meanwhile, continues to rewrite the record books as he leads both Argentina’s title defence and the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.