Argentina Vs Cape Verde, FIFA World Cup: Borges' Own Goal Heartbreak Sends La Albiceleste Through
Argentina Vs Cape Verde Match Gallery, FIFA World cup 2026: In an edge-of-the-seat encounter, Argentina edged past Cape Verde with a 3-2 win to reach the round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday, July 4. The small island nation kept the defending champions on their toes for the entirety of the match and pushed them to the brink to get that win, but in the end, an own goal from Cristian Romero in the 111th minute proved to be the difference between the teams. Argentine legend, Lionel Messi, scored his 20th career World Cup goal in the regulation time to get Argentina ahead early. Lisandro Martinez also netted one in the 103rd minute to get La Albiceleste ahead for the 2nd time in the game. Cape Verde presented a tough challenge with Sidny Lopes Cabral and Deroy Duarte netting equalisers to keep them in the game. Argentina will now face Egypt in the round of 16 match in Atlanta on Tuesday. See the best photos from the ARG vs CPV football match here:
Fans arrive before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Marta Lavandier/AP Photo
An Argentina fan looks on before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Chris Carlson/AP Photo
A fan of Argentina waits for the beginning of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Lynne Sladky/AP Photo
Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, walks to the field for warm up before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha warms-up prior to the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Argentina in Miami Gardens AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) warms up before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Chris Carlson/AP Photo
An Argentina fan looks on before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Chris Carlson/AP Photo
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, and Argentine Soccer Association President Claudio Tapia clap before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens George Walker IV/AP Photo
Argentina fans cheer during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Garden George Walker IV/AP Photo
Cape Verde fans cheer during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens George Walker IV/AP Photo
Fans sing the national anthem during a gathering to watch the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Buenos Aires Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo
A Cape Verde cheers during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens George Walker IV/AP Photo
Fans of Argentina wait for the beginning of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Lynne Sladky/AP Photo
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) scores their first goal against Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) and Diney Borges (3) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Marta Lavandier/AP Photo
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Cape Verde during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Garden Lynne Sladky/AP Photo
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Chris Carlson/AP Photo
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) scores their first goal against Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens George Walker IV/AP Photo
A fan watches the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Buenos Aires Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo
Argentina's Lionel Messi leaves the field at half time during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo
Cape Verde's Deroy Duarte (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. AP Photo/Marta Lavandier
Argentina's Lisandro Martinez, right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Cape Verde during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
Cape Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral (13) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Argentina during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Lynne Sladky
Cape Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral (13) celebrates their second goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. AP Photo/George Walker IV
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, center, instructs his players during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Argentina's Cristian Romero celebrates after Cape Verde's Diney Borges (3) scored an own goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) makes a save during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Marta Lavandier
Cape Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral (13) and Jamiro Monteiro (10) react to a loss during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. AP Photo/George Walker IV
Argentina fans cheer after a win during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/George Walker IV
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez celebrates with his daughter and son after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Cape Verde head coach Bubista stands on the pitch after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Lynne Sladky
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1), center, greets Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Lynne Sladky
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) and his teammates react after Cape Verde's Diney Borges (3) scored an own goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Lynne Sladky
Cape Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral (13) and Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) react after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Chris Carlson
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) leaves the pitch after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) reacts as he leaves the pitch after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Marta Lavandier
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