Argentina beat debutants Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time at Hard Rock Stadium, level at 1-1 after 90 minutes. Lionel Messi's sublime opener was cancelled out twice by the smallest nation ever to reach this stage before an own goal settled a dramatic tie.
How it unfolded: Messi, Duarte, then extra-time chaos
Messi scored on 29 from a Lautaro Martinez pass — his seventh of the finals. Deroy Duarte levelled on 59. In extra time Lisandro Martinez struck on 92, Sidny Lopes Cabral curled a stunner on 103 for 2-2, and a Diney Borges own goal on 111 from a Messi corner won it.
Context: a heroic debut
Cape Verde, the smallest nation to reach the last 32, pushed Argentina to the limit and were seconds from penalties. Messi's brilliance proved the difference.
The next step: Argentina meet Egypt
Argentina advance to face Egypt. With the score 1-1 after 90 minutes, our pre-match lean on Argentina was undone in regulation before they prevailed in extra time.
What we predicted before the match
🌍 FIFA World Cup · World
Argentina – Cape Verde Islands Prediction and Betting Tips
Argentina
WWWWW
vs
18:00
03 Jul · Fri
Cape Verde Islands
DDDWW
Kick-off: 18:00 local (3 Jul) · 22:00 UTCVenue: Hard Rock StadiumReferee: D. Fischer
Top forecast + 3 supporting tips
4 picks Top Pick
Win 1Argentina to win70% confidence
1.15odds
Argentina's depth of quality and pedigree make them overwhelming favourites to see off debutants Cape Verde in regulation; a shock here would rank among the World Cup's biggest.
Back this tip
1X82%
Argentina or draw
1.21 odds
Total Team 1 Over: 1.560%
Argentina over 1.5 goals
1.27 odds
Total:Over: 2.554%
Over 2.5 goals
1.66 odds
This Round of 32 tie pits the reigning world champions against one of the tournament's feel-good stories. Argentina, packed with quality, advanced as one of the favourites, while Cape Verde — a nation of barely half a million people — reached the knockouts on their World Cup debut through organisation and outstanding spirit. Expect pedigree against resilience: Lionel Scaloni's star-studded Argentina against Bubista's disciplined, deep-lying Cape Verde. With a Round of 16 place on the line and a draw sending the tie to extra time, Argentina are overwhelming favourites. Our forecast backs Argentina to win, though Cape Verde's run has already earned them a place in the tournament's affections.
Argentina
1–1
Cape Verde Islands
