Lionel Messi message frames Argentina win
Lionel Messi helped Argentina defeat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 3, sending the defending champion into the Round of 16.
The match was decided by Diney Borges’ 111th-minute own goal, while Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha later described a respectful post-match exchange with Messi after one of the tournament’s closest knockout contests.
Lionel Messi praised Vozinha
Vozinha said Messi hugged him after the match and praised his performance, telling the goalkeeper that Cape Verde’s people should feel proud after the narrow knockout result.
The goalkeeper said Messi’s words meant a lot because of his standing in soccer, then asked for a shirt swap after interviews connected to the match.
Vozinha gave Cape Verde a face
Vozinha entered the Argentina match after strong group play, including a scoreless draw against Spain that raised Cape Verde’s profile during its first World Cup appearance.
At 40, the goalkeeper became a clear name for new viewers following Cape Verde, especially after multiple saves against Argentina and earlier work in Group H.
Argentina advanced after extra time
Argentina led through Messi before Cape Verde leveled the match in regular time, forcing extra time at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 3.
Lisandro Martínez scored early in extra time, Sidny Lopes Cabral answered for Cape Verde, and the 111th-minute own goal settled Argentina’s 3-2 win.
Cape Verde stretched Argentina
Cape Verde reached the knockout rounds in its first World Cup, then pushed Argentina beyond 90 minutes before leaving the tournament by one goal in Florida.
The run included group results against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, giving Cape Verde a rare debut story before the last 32 match against Argentina.
Sidny Lopes Cabral tied it late
Sidny Lopes Cabral scored in extra time with a curling finish that tied the match at 2-2 and briefly tested Argentina’s control.
The equalizer gave Cape Verde one of its clearest moments in a match against the defending champion during a knockout game in Miami Gardens.
Cristian Romero created final play
Cristian Romero rose for a late header in the 111th minute, and the deflection sent Argentina ahead during extra time at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens.
The decisive sequence gave Argentina a 3-2 lead near the finish, protecting the defending champion’s tournament path after Cape Verde had tied the match earlier.
Lionel Messi scored first
Messi opened the scoring for Argentina in the 29th minute, giving the defending champion an early lead during the last 32 match against Cape Verde.
The goal added another knockout contribution to Messi’s World Cup record, while Vozinha still made several saves against Argentina’s attack during the same match.
Cape Verde drew wider attention
Cape Verde’s first World Cup run reached the knockout stage, making the island nation one of the tournament’s most discussed smaller entrants by early July.
The country has around 500,000 people, and its team became the least populous nation to reach the World Cup knockout rounds during the 2026 tournament.
Cape Verde returned to Praia
Cape Verde’s players returned to Praia after the Argentina match, where thousands of flag-waving fans welcomed the team after its first World Cup run reached the knockout stage.
The public reception matched a tournament story built on group-stage points, a narrow Argentina match, and wider attention for a national team from a country of around 500,000 people.
Bola Pra Frente gained notice
Bola Pra Frente Academy in Praia drew attention after Cape Verde’s World Cup debut because youth players there connected the national team’s run with local development.
The academy was founded in 2010 and trains 240 players ages 4 to 17, linking the tournament story with future soccer talent in Cape Verde.
Vozinha carried unusual path
Vozinha, whose full name is Josimar José Évora Dias, carried a childhood nickname translated as Voice into Cape Verde’s first World Cup appearance.
His background in Portugal’s second tier gave the tournament another unusual player story, as a 40-year-old goalkeeper became central to Cape Verde’s run.
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Lionel Messi moment closed match
Messi’s post-match exchange with Vozinha gave Argentina’s 3-2 win a clear closing image after Cape Verde pushed the defending champion through extra time.
Argentina then moved past Egypt in the Round of 16 and prepared for Switzerland in the quarterfinals, keeping Messi’s title defense alive after another close match.
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Which part of Cape Verde’s run stood out most to you- Vozinha’s saves, Messi’s post-match praise, or the team’s homecoming in Praia? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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