Lionel Messi sprinted away with arms outstretched, having just produced a breathtaking first touch and deft finish to put Argentina ahead against Cape Verde in Miami. It was his eighth consecutive World Cup game with a goal, a run of staggering consistency. But on Friday night, his brilliance was not the main story.
Even in defeat, Cape Verde stole the show. The African minnows, making their World Cup debut, twice came from behind to force the defending champions into extra time, eventually losing 3-2 in a match that will be remembered as one of the great World Cup thrillers.
“Cape Verde's debut World Cup run ends in a heroic 3-2 extra-time loss to Argentina, hailed as one of the greatest tournament matches.”
Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha, a 40-year-old playing in the Portuguese second division, had already become a sensation after shutting out European champions Spain in the tournament opener. He made $53,000 last year; Messi earned more than that for every five minutes he was on the field with Inter Miami. Against Argentina, Vozinha again stood tall, pushing back wave after wave of attacks to force extra time.
“I feel proud to have competed against some of the best teams in the world,” said head coach Bubista, who entered his post-match press conference to applause from the media. “We are a small nation but we have shown that we can face any team and go toe to toe. Being our first time in the World Cup, we feel extremely proud of what we have accomplished.”
With Argentina leading 1-0 and seemingly in control, Deroy Duarte – a midfielder who plays in Bulgaria and had never scored for Cape Verde in 36 appearances – produced a finish almost as good as Messi’s to equalise. The match swung back and forth until extra time, when Argentina again edged ahead. But Cape Verde refused to wilt: Sidny Lopes Cabral smashed in a stunning goal to level once more. Only in the second period of extra time did Argentina finally secure victory.
The result means Cape Verde exit the tournament, but not before earning the admiration of the football world. Their fairytale run captivated fans and left an indelible mark on World Cup lore. Earlier, Egypt had beaten Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Hossam Abdelmaguid sent the Pharaohs through, and they will now face the winners of Argentina vs Cape Verde – a match that, in the end, was far closer than anyone anticipated.