Argentina Survive Extra-Time Thriller to Reach Last 16, Messi Scores Record 20th World Cup Goal

Defending champions Argentina advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging Cape Verde in an extra-time battle. Lionel Messi set another milestone, becoming the first player in World Cup history to reach 20 career goals.

Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 after an extra-time struggle in their round-of-32 match at the Miami Stadium in the United States on Wednesday.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup winners advanced to the knockout stage with three straight wins (nine points) in Group J, beating Algeria 3-0, Austria 2-0, and Jordan 3-1. In the round of 32, they narrowly overcame Cape Verde, who put up fiercer resistance than expected, continuing their bid to defend the title.

Messi was at the center of the victory. In the 29th minute of the first half, he received a penetrating pass from Lisandro Martinez and shook the net with a left-footed strike. It was his seventh goal of the tournament and his 20th career World Cup goal, becoming the first player ever to break the 20-goal barrier in World Cup history.

With the goal, Messi overtook Kylian Mbappe (France), who has six goals, to move into sole possession of the tournament's scoring lead. He also extended his streak of scoring in eight consecutive World Cup matches, dating back to the round-of-16 clash against Australia at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The match highlighted not only Messi's records but also the performance of Lisandro Martinez. Martinez assisted the opening goal and then scored himself from a corner kick in the second minute of extra time, recording one goal and one assist.

Cape Verde did not back down easily. The West African island nation with a population of about 520,000 caused a stir in their first-ever World Cup finals appearance, drawing 0-0 with Spain, 2-2 with Uruguay, and 0-0 with Saudi Arabia to finish second in Group H. In this match, too, they troubled the defending champions to the end with their tenacious play.

The first half ended with Argentina ahead thanks to Messi's opening goal. Receiving an accurate pass from Martinez, Messi calmly succeeded with a left-footed shot from the right side of the goal area to break the deadlock.

In the second half, Cape Verde launched their counterattack. In the 14th minute of the second half, Deroy Duarte scored the equalizer with a left-footed shot amid a scramble in front of the goal.

Argentina introduced Julian Alvarez and Nico Gonzalez to change their attack. Messi sought an additional goal with a one-on-one chance in the 18th minute of the second half and a free kick in the 28th minute, but was denied by consecutive saves from Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

The result was decided in extra time. Argentina went ahead again with Martinez's goal in the second minute of the first extra period, but Sidney Lopes Cabral's powerful long-range shot split the net in the 13th minute of the first extra period, bringing the score level again.

In the end, it was Messi who decided the match at the final moment. In the sixth minute of the second extra period, Cristian Romero headed home the winning goal from a left-footed corner kick delivered by Messi. Cape Verde then went on an all-out offensive, but the equalizer never came, and the match ended in a 3-2 win for Argentina.

Messi, who started the match, also set a record with his 30th career World Cup appearance, setting a new all-time high in that category. Argentina, who advanced to the round of 16, will face Egypt for a spot in the quarterfinals at the Atlanta Stadium in the United States at 1 a.m. on the 8th.