- Argentina Player Ratings vs Cabo Verde: Lionel Messi wins Man of the Match as La Albiceleste seal last-16 spot.
- Messi opened the scoring off a sublime touch and later forcing the dramatic 111th-minute match-winning own goal from a corner.
- Lisandro Martínez shined offensively with a stunning assist and a 92nd-minute goal.
Argentina survived a monumental scare to seal their ticket to the Round of 16 following a grueling 3–2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at Miami Stadium.
Lionel Messi stole the headlines once again, orchestrating the offense to save the defending champions from a massive upset.
Argentina broke the deadlock in the first half following a clever Lisandro Martínez delivery, but a resilient Cape Verde fought back twice before a dramatic 111th-minute own goal forced by a Messi corner finally put the game out of reach.
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Argentina Player Ratings vs Cape Verde
Goalkeeper & Defence
Emiliano Martínez (7.0/10): Made crucial saves in the opening 10 minutes of extra time to prevent a shock.
While he could do nothing about Sidny Lopes Cabral’s sensational curler into the top corner, his brave diving interception at the death denied Cape Verde a 122nd-minute equalizer.
Nahuel Molina (6.5/10): Offered good width moving forward in the first half, though he had to shift into defensive damage-control as Cape Verde threw caution to the wind late in the second half.
Cristian Romero (7.5/10): Played a massive role in extra time. His aerial presence was vital when Cape Verde flooded the box, and he kept his composure through 120 minutes of unrelenting pressure.
Lisandro Martínez (8.0/10): Provided a stunning assist for Messi’s opening goal with a perfectly weighted long ball.
He later scored what looked like the extra-time winner in the 92nd minute with a thunderous strike, though he was marginally caught out on Cape Verde’s first equalizer when Deroy Duarte’s shot went through his legs.
Facundo Medina (6.0/10): Faced a heavy workload down his flank dealing with Ryan Mendes. Overcame a few shaky moments before making way for Nicolás Tagliafico.
Midfield
Rodrigo De Paul (6.5/10): Battled fiercely in the center to break down Cape Verde’s transitions before being substituted for Leandro Paredes late in normal time.
Enzo Fernández (7.0/10): Found a few excellent opportunities pushing forward from deep and tested the keeper. Provided strong technical stability to a midfield that was tested to its limits.
Alexis Mac Allister (7.0/10): The engine of the midfield. He controlled possession well and recycled play effectively to counter Cape Verde’s energetic pressing.
Attack
Lionel Messi (9.2/10) • PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Capitalized on a brilliant lofted pass from Lisandro Martínez to open the scoring with a sublime touch and low finish.
He tested Cape Verde keeper Vozinha repeatedly, but his true masterclass was handling the late-game pressure—delivering the corner that forced Diney’s match-winning own goal.
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Lautaro Martínez (6.0/10): Struggled to find space against Cape Verde’s deeply resilient defensive setup. He had limited service and was substituted for Julián Álvarez in the 63rd minute after making minimal impact on the box.
Thiago Almada (6.5/10): Looked lively in possession and tried to open up angles early on, but found it difficult to unlock a disciplined Blue Sharks midfield before being subbed out after Cape Verde’s second-half equalizer.
Substitutes
Julián Álvarez (6.5/10): Offered fresh energy up front from the 63rd minute but was closely marked by Cape Verde’s back line.
Nicolás González (6.5/10): Brought pace on the wing and stretched the field well through extra time.
Leandro Paredes (6.0/10): Added physical presence in the midfield to weather Cape Verde’s late aerial assault.
Nicolás Tagliafico (6.5/10): Stabilized the left side of defense during the chaotic final minutes of extra time.
Gonzalo Montiel (5.5/10): Came on in the 103rd minute and picked up a yellow card for a tactical foul as Argentina clung to their narrow lead.