The Argentine national team made the whole country suffer again, but finally delivered: they beat Cape Verde and secured a spot in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The match, played at the imposing Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, was a true hell for Lionel Scaloni’s men, who saw how the African team, absolute debutants in the World Cup, stood up to them until the last minute.
The group stage encounter was much more even than analysts had predicted. Argentina, arriving with a perfect record after beating Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), and Jordan (3-1), faced a rival that gave them nothing. Cape Verde, the tournament’s great Cinderella, had already shown their ability by drawing 0-0 with Spain and Saudi Arabia, and earning a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. This time, the «Blue Sharks» again displayed a solid defensive block and a goalkeeper, Vózinha, who became a standout figure.
The first half was an Albiceleste monologue in terms of possession, but without clarity in the final third. Lionel Messi, as always, was the most dangerous, but he ran into the African wall time and again. Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez also tried, but without success. On the other side, Cape Verde bet on counterattacks and had a clear chance that Emiliano Martínez saved with a miraculous stop.
In the second half, Scaloni made changes: Ángel Di María and Giovani Lo Celso came on to add more pace to the attack. But the goal did not come, and desperation began to show in the stands, painted in light blue and white. Until, in the 87th minute, magic appeared: Messi received a pass in the middle third, drove forward, dribbled past two defenders, and unleashed a cross-shot that nestled into the top corner. A wonder goal. Total madness.
With the 1-0 win, Argentina secured first place in the group and now awaits the winner of the match between Australia and Egypt in the round of 16. However, alarm bells are ringing: the lack of effectiveness from the forwards, except for Messi, is a problem Scaloni must solve if he wants to keep advancing. Of the nine goals the national team has scored in the tournament, seven bear the captain’s signature. The rest came from set pieces: a penalty by Lautaro Martínez and a free kick by Lo Celso.
«We knew it would be tough, Cape Verde made it very difficult for us. But this team has character and showed it once again,» Messi said after the match, visibly exhausted. Coach Scaloni acknowledged that «we need to improve in finishing» and that «knockout matches are a different story.»
Now, Argentina must prepare for the round of 16, where the margin for error is zero. The path continues, but the scare in Miami will remain in the memory of all Argentines who suffered until the last second.
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che no puedo creer q casi perdamos con caboverde un equipo de cuarta messi la salvo como siempre pero estos jugadores de mierda no puede ser q sufran tanto y los zurdos de siempre festejando como si fuera un gol de ellos vamos argentina a seguir rompiendo aguante messi los demas q se vayan a laburar firmado el gaucho del sur
para mi messi salvo el orto de la seleccion como siempre los ricos festejando en miami mientras el pueblo se come la inflacion cabo verde los tuvo de hijos pero el sistema siempre favorece a los de siempre vamos argentina carajo