Argentina defeated the small island nation of Cabo Verde 3-2 after extra time on 3 July in the World Cup Round of 32 — the stage where 32 teams compete to reach the tournament's final 16. Lionel Messi, the 38-year-old Argentine legend, scored during the match and set up the winning goal in the final minutes of overtime at Miami Stadium.

Messi extended his record as the World Cup's all-time top scorer — a distinction no other player shares. His presence on the field remained decisive even as Argentina faced an unexpectedly tough opponent. The winning goal came from a corner kick that Messi delivered; teammate Cristian Romero jumped to head it, but it deflected off a Cabo Verde defender before crossing the line.

Cabo Verde, a nation of roughly 500,000 people off the coast of West Africa, was competing in only their second World Cup. Despite being far less favored than Argentina, they played with clear tactical ideas: they stayed compact on defense, moved the ball quickly to catch Argentina off guard, and looked to score on their own set pieces. The fact that the match went 120 minutes — past the normal 90 — shows how well-organized and determined the Cabo Verde team truly was.

After the match, Cabo Verde's head coach Bubista told reporters, per The Guardian, that his team's World Cup campaign was something the country could be proud of. That makes sense: for a small island nation to reach the knockout rounds of a 48-team tournament is an achievement in itself.

Argentina, the defending world champions, showed why they hold that title. They came under pressure but absorbed it, found the right moment to score, and moved on. Messi and Romero — one of the tournament's most physical defenders — combined for the set-piece solution that ended the match. This is how strong teams typically win when things get tight: not always with beautiful play, but with composure and effectiveness.

For Cabo Verde, the loss ends their World Cup story. The world won't see them play again in this tournament. Yet their head coach built something real: a squad with a plan that very nearly upset the favorites.

Argentina now moves forward, carrying a subplot that will shape the rest of the tournament. Messi is 38 and this is widely expected to be his final World Cup. The question everyone is asking: can he win a second World Cup title? He won one in Qatar two years ago. From here, every match Argentina plays will be analyzed through that lens — by commentators, by other teams, and by Messi himself.