FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi, Argentina beat Cabo Verde 3-2 in extra time thriller, advancing to Round of 16
Argentina defeated Cabo Verde 3-2 in an extra-time thriller during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32. Lionel Messi scored his 20th career World Cup goal, helping his team advance to face Egypt in the next round.
Why it matters
The match highlights the competitive nature of the 2026 World Cup, specifically noting the historic performance of Cabo Verde as the smallest nation to reach the knockout stages.
Lionel Messi and Argentina beat Cabo Verde 3-2 on Friday (July 3, 2026) and advanced to the World Cup Round of 16 in a thrilling match in which the tiny island nation challenged the reigning champion until the final minutes of extra time.
The report is a standard sports recap focusing on match statistics and tournament progression.
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