One of the biggest mismatches in World Cup history turned into one of the greatest battles this competition has ever seen, as the Argentina of Lionel Messi slogged it out with the Cape Verde of Vozinha . This was an epic World Cup tie, improbable and emotional, as the world champions were rattled and humbled by the 64th-best side in international football.
The strength of Argentina, and Messi in particular, eventually told on a manic night in Miami. But they had to work extraordinarily hard for this victory, secured in extra-time, after Cape Verde delivered one of the finest underdog performances in recent memory.
Twice Cape Verde conceded to moments of Argentine brilliance, and twice they fought back. Even when they conceded a third, they still continued to terrify their more illustrious opponents. Deroy Duarte and Sidny Cabral were not recognised names before this summer but they are global stars now, as key pillars of the most captivating match of the tournament. Both players scored fabulous goals for Cape Verde, with Cabral so overcome by the joy of his extra-time equaliser that he celebrated by climbing into the stands to embrace his girlfriend.
Sidney Cabral climbed into the stands to embrace his girlfriend after scoring - Getty Images/MB Media
At the heart of the contest was the remarkable duel between Messi and Vozinha, Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper. Never before has the World Cup knockout stage seen such an imbalance of individual opponents. In the Argentina corner, the greatest footballer of all time and an individual worth an estimated $1.1 billion . In the Cape Verde corner, a man whose mother could not attend the opening game of this tournament because of the cost of the visa.
Messi scored one, a typically brilliant opener in the 29th minute, but Vozinha repeatedly denied him a second goal. The hero of Cape Verde's goalless draw against Spain in the group stages, Vozinha made stop after stop when faced with the best footballer on the planet. He finished the night with eight saves.
In the end, when the whistle finally blew after two hours of relentlessly engrossing sport, the scoreline read 3-2 in Argentina's favour. Diney Borges 's late own goal, as he challenged for a corner, proved to be the crucial moment. Cape Verde did not deserve such an outcome, but they know they will leave this tournament as one of the best stories in modern World Cup football.
"We played with dignity and courage," said Bubista, the Cape Verde manager. "It showed the character of our team, how skilled we are. We did our best, and we did it with bravery. I am very proud of what we did throughout this tournament. This was about showing the world our identity."
Few inside the Miami Stadium could have foreseen the drama here when Messi struck his 20th World Cup goal to give his team a first-half lead. After ambling around the pitch for much of the first half, he suddenly flicked the switch after 29 minutes. A sharp burst, out of nowhere, and he was gone. The Cape Verde defenders saw him, and then they didn't.
The clipped pass from Lisandro Martinez , over the top of Cape Verde's defence, was sublime. But not as sublime as Messi's first touch, with the outside of his left boot, as the ball bounced at his feet. From there, he powered the finish high into Vozinha's net. It was the eighth consecutive World Cup game in which Messi had scored, another record.
In a stadium that was overwhelmingly populated by fans in Argentina shirts – at least 95 per cent of it was blue and white – the assumption was that Messi and his team-mates would simply ease to a comfortable victory from here. The Cape Verde fairytale, surely, was over.
A nation of Cape Verde's size does not come this far, though, without the qualities of resilience and durability. They had proven their defensive quality in the group stages, keeping clean sheets against Spain and Saudi Arabia , and here they unexpectedly offered a moment of attacking class to go with it. Ryan Mendes slipped the ball into the path of Duarte, who ripped a low finish beyond Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez .
That goal, combined with Cape Verde's defensive organisation and the reflexes of Vozinha, dragged this game into extra-time. Argentina promptly struck again, with Martinez producing a Messi-esque finish into the top corner after Cape Verde had failed to clear a set-piece.
For the second time on the night, Cape Verde had enough courage and class to haul themselves back into the tie. Cabral, their adventurous left-back who three years ago was playing in the fourth division of German football, curled home perhaps the best goal of the tournament so far. If not the finest strike, it was certainly the most improbable. "An amazing goal," said Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni. "Impossible to defend."
Fortunately for Scaloni, Messi has spent most of his life deconstructing inferior opponents on a football field. He did so again here, delivering a left-wing corner that was met by Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero . The deflection, off Borges, gave little opportunity to Vozinha.
Even then, with two hours of football in their legs, Cape Verde still pushed with enthusiasm and belief. Having already scored with one long-range effort, Cabral whipped a similar effort towards goal from a free-kick. This time, Emiliano Martinez was equal to it. "The match was ugly for us," Scaloni admitted. For everyone else, though, it had been beautiful.
02:23am
02:17am
Vozinha is going to get a good club off the back of this.
What a World Cup.
Everything that he does is calm and composed. Where has he been?
We should have met him before.
Vozinha is looking for a club - Paul Childs/Reuters
02:04am
That's what you're ideally hoping will happen around the world and this is why Fifa have to do so much to make sure the funds they get do reach everybody.
What this does show people is that when you give people the opportunity they can get onto the biggest stage no matter how small they are and they can have it with the world champions, with one of the greatest players in the world. It was a Herculean effort from them absolutely.
02:01am
01:59am
Lisandro Martinez exhuasted - Ronald Wittek/Shutterstock
01:57am
Sidny Cabral in tears - George Walker IV/AP
01:52am
01:46am
One of the great matches of this or any World Cup. Cape Verde are the losers, but they are the story of the game and possibly the tournament. The smallest nation to ever play in the competition could not be beaten in 90 minutes by Spain, Uruguay or Argentina, which defies belief. Sydny Cabral, who scored their stunning second, is in tears at the end but his goal will be watched the world over.
Argentina progress to the last-16 where they will play Egypt , but that was draining and raises questions about their credentials as possible winners.
Argentina breathe a sigh of relief - Lynne Sladky/AP
01:44am
Time is up but Cape Verde have a throw deep in Argentina territory.
01:43am
Varela with a wasteful shot from distance, and Emi Martinez punches the air. Argentina have one more minute to survive. Some of their players, Messi included, can barely shift at more than walking pace.
01:42am
Argentina are out on their feet here, they are trying to sit on this lead and hang on. Cape Verde have another corner. They have finished the stronger physically. Corner came to the edge of the box but Montero's shot was blocked.
Argentina break, but Vozinha plays sweeper and intercepts.
01:41am
Oh so close to another Cape Verde equaliser! Ball flicked on in the box, and Emi Martinez sprawled at the feet of Benchimol a few yards out who just needed to get a touch to it. Then Livramento missed a sitter, but the flag was up for offside.
Emiliano Martinez makes a save - George Walker IV/AP
01:39am
Delays before Cape Verde can take the resulting corner while Tagliafico receives some treatment for a bloody nose. Semedo to take the corner, but he cannot clear the first man. Fatigue probably to blame.
01:37am
Cape Verde have a free-kick near the corner of the box, not a dissimilar position to where Cabral took his shot from. Montiel booked for the foul.
And Cabral took it one again! Same technique to the goal, great strike, but this time it was a bit closer to Martinez who tipped over the bar.
01:35am
Cape Verde are back on the front foot again, a low cross from Semedo is blocked. Lisandro Martinez and Alexis Mac Allister go down with cramp.
01:33am
Another set-piece goal, and it is a textbook header from Romero. Floated in by Messi, and the Spurs defender tied his jump to head towards the far corner, and the ball deflected off the hand of Borges and in. Scaloni simply grimaces and plants his face into his hand, no celebration at all.
01:31am
The flag goes up for an Argentina offside. They look quite stodgy as an attacking force at the moment, they are not pulling Cape Verde apart. Gonzalez with a barreling run into the box, but Borges wins the tackle.
01:29am
Cape Verde clear an Argentina free-kick, and then break forward with numbers but Semedo drags a shot wide from distance.
01:26am
Argentina will not want to let this game get to penalties.
01:24am
At every stage you think Argentina are going to make the game a formality, Cape Verde come storming back. The game is wide open now with 15 minutes to play, and another Cape Verde goal does not feel out of the question.
01:21am
Messi has a shot saved before Alavrez's follow up is blocked! Just a couple of minutes to play before half-time in extra time.
01:19am
Sidny Cabral has just scored one of the goals of the tournament, and dives into the crowd looking for his friends and family to celebrate with! It is a goal from nothing, and Cape Verde have equalised for a second time just when they looked dead and buried. Cabral ducked inside Mac Allister and whipped a shot from the corner of the box into the top corner. No chance for Emi Martinez.
01:15am
Benchimol and Semedo are on for Cape Verde, who are now playing with two strikers as they chase a goal. A cross skips all the way through to Emi Martinez.
01:13am
Cape Verde won a second corner in succession after a bit of a scramble but Argentina then clear their lines and restore some order. Messi and Alvarez both then have shots blocked on the turn.
01:10am
Surely Argentina are not going to let a lead slip for a second time. But Cape Verde do have a corner from Cabral's blocked cross.
Martinez has produced two moments of real attacking brilliance in this game. First the assist for Messi, and then that thumping finish. Messi-esque. Sorry to say it, but I don't see a way in which Cape Verde can come back into this game again.
01:08am
Almost exactly the same patch of net in which Messi scored from Martinez's assist earlier in the game. It came from an Argentina corner, flicked on by Mac Allister at the near post which ran all the way to Martinez at the back post. Chopped inside, and blasted a shot into the roof of the net. Great finish. Not unlike the goal he scored at Anfield two seasons ago for Manchester United .
01:05am
Cape Verde kick off. Are they already thinking about penalties? Would be monumental pressure on the Argentina takers if it got that far.
01:00am
We are heading to extra time. That is an amazing achievement for Cape Verde in itself, but there could be an even bigger reward waiting for them. Vozinha has made a couple of fine saves, but the scoreline is not a fluke. Argentina have not really done enough.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha is congratulated by his team-mates - Marta Lavandier/AP
12:58am
Cape Verde actually decide the keep possession from the free-kick, and they do so successfully, taking the sting out of the game.
12:57am
Now Cape Verde have a free-kick just inside the Argentina half. Chance to put the ball in the mixer.
12:57am
Vozinha saves Messi's free-kick! It was a low one, which deflected off Cabral but the goalkeeper did enough to make an unorthodox reaction save.
12:55am
Argentina in free-kick in a shooting position, Borges tripping Messi after a trademark jinking run in a small space. Only one man who is going to take this, surely. Sets up well for the left-footed, right of centre.
12:52am
Moreira defends well against Julian Alvarez after some quick feet at the edge of the box. It really is attack against defence now, no way out for Cape Verde. Paredes shoots from distance, but Vozinha steps across to catch the strike.
12:51am
There will be EIGHT minutes of additional time.
12:50am
Messi lofts a pass into the penalty area, attacked by the head of Mac Allister and there are loud appeals for a handball penalty against Lopes. There was a check, but no penalty is the call because the ball flicked off the defender's head first before hitting his arm. He knew very little about it.
12:47am
Borges heads a Messi cross away, before a dipping Mac Allister shot deflects over the bar for an Argentina corner. Punched clear by the irrepresible Vozinha.
12:45am
Better football from Argentina, Messi with a lovely touch into De Paul who carries the ball to the edge of the box, but Cape Verde defend another pull-back. Paredes is now on for De Paul. Their left-back Medina is also down getting some treatment.
12:43am
Vozinha quick off his line again to claim a pass chipped over the Cape Verde defence. Probably around 13 or 14 minutes for Argentina to spare themselves extra time.
12:43am
Magnificent defending from Cape Verde centre-back Lopes, though it was so nearly an own goal! Enzo Fernandez would have had a tap-in from Molina's low cross, but Lopes diverted the ball inches wide of the post. One of Argentina's better moves of the second half.
12:39am
Pina decided to shoot from a free-kick 40 yards out after the drinks break and he never got over it. The pause in play has given Cape Verde a chance to regroup and regain their composure. The clock is ticking down.
12:36am
This battle between Messi and Vozinha has become absolutely compelling. The 39-year-old greatest player of all time is struggling to find a way past the 40-year-old who plays in the second tier of Portuguese football.
Vozinha has made two saves against Messi - Nathan Ray Seebeck/Reuters
12:34am
Another stop from Vozinha! He plucks Messi's free-kick out of the top corner, it was taken quickly with the goalkeeper leaning on one post but he scampered across the line to make the stop.
I thought the referee had forgotten, but it is now time for the break.
These were the celebrations back home in Cape Verde.
12:32am
Messi now wins another free-kick, closer to the edge of the box, after Fernandez did well to hook the ball across goal. Signs in the last few minutes of Argentina turning the screw, starting to sustain attacks and keep Cape Verde penned in their own box.
12:29am
Just before the second hydration break, Pina hauls down Messi to stop and Argentina break and he is punished with a yellow card. Messi's free-kick from a long way out hits the wall.
12:28am
Lisandro Martinez with another lofted pass over the top for Gonzalez, but Enzo Fernandez's slices a kung fu volley after the ball is chested down. Cape Verde with a couple of subs: Monteiro and Livramento are the players coming on.
12:24am
Crucial save from Vozinha to deny Messi! Great chance for Argentina to restore their lead after a flick around the corner at the edge of the box, but Messi's right-footed effort was too close to the goalkeeper.
Argentina changes: Almada and Lautaro Martinez off, Gonzalez and Julian Alvarez on.
Some of the Cape Verde supporters were in tears behind the goal in which Duarte scored. Extraordinary moment, and it wasn't totally against the run of play.
12:22am
Well, well. Cape Verde had improved at the start of the second half, and now they are level against all the odds and the cluster of blue shirts behind the goal are delirious. Argentina slack defensively, but it was a clever pass from Mendes through the legs of Medina into Deroy Duarte. He turned, and his low shot flew through the legs of Lisandro Martinez into the bottom corner.
12:19am
Romero with a clumsy foul on Laros Duarte in midfield. Moments earlier, Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha attracted some pressure from Messi before he thought better of it and booted the ball out of play.
12:15am
Cape Verde produce their most dangerous attack of the game. Moreira with a low cross from the right, Da Costa's touch was heavy, but the ball ran for Deroy Duarte to strike from the edge of the area through bodies but Emi Martinez was equal to it.
12:11am
Quite a strange feel to the game because the outcome does not feel in doubt, but Argentina are not exactly pulling up trees with their performance. The defending champions are playing within themselves, but are untroubled defensively.
12:06am
Argentina kick off in the second half.
12:03am
11:51pm
11:51pm
A game that has lacked the edge of the best World Cup knockout games – lots of keepball from Argentina against a Cape Verde team content to just stay in the contest – but that sleepy tempo was worth it to watch another piece of Messi brilliance.
Lionel Messi delivered another great World Cup goal - Chris Brunskill/Getty Images
11:46pm
Argentina ending the half with another long spell of possession, and there will be four minutes of added time to play.
This is my second time watching Messi in the flesh at this World Cup and on both occasions the most striking aspect of his performance has been his lack of movement. He really does spend most of the match ambling around. Often in an offside position. He plays the game in five-second bursts.
11:41pm
That was better from Cape Verde, Cabral threading a clever pass through to Mendes on the right but his cross failed to pick out a team-mate. Rodrigo De Paul with a driving run forward, before the flag goes up for offside.
11:38pm
Moreira gets forward for Cape Verde but he slices a cross behind for an Argentina goal kick. Despite some neat passing moves, they understandably lack some punch in the final third and it is hard to see where a goal comes from against quite a frugal Argentina side.
11:36pm
I don't think there was any anxiety in Argentina's performance, but they really should be able to attack with abandon now. They create a lot of space for Molina and Medina, but neither is the best full-back offensively.
11:32pm
Now you see him, now you don't. Even at the age of 39, Messi still has such explositivity in his movement. The sudden change of direction, as he darted in behind, killed the Cape Verde defence. And then the first touch, obviously, is outstanding.
11:30pm
Argentina were not looking too threatening, until a Lisandro Martinez pass was lofted over the centre-back Borges on to the left foot of Messi. Superb pass, but an exquisite first touch on the half-volley from Messi, who waited for the ball to bounce again so he could lift the ball over Vozinha into the roof of the net. Brilliant.
11:28pm
Play has now resumed again, with Argentina stroking the ball around in the Cape Verde half.
11:25pm
Rodrigo De Paul whips in a cross but it is repelled with ease by Cape Verde, and it is time for the first hydration break. Argentina yet to get going so far, too much of their possession has been sterile.
11:22pm
Cape Verde really backing themselves to play out through Argentina's possession, and they worked a move really well out to left wing but Cabral failed to control the pass. Bubista must be delighted with how his team have started.
11:19pm
Messi whipped his free-kick up and over the wall, but not enough power to trouble the goalkeeper and too central. Vozinha saved comfortably, before he was sharp of his line to gather a pass played into the box towards Messi.
Vozinha 2 - 0 Messi. The Cape Verde goalkeeper saves Messi's free-kick, and then a few seconds later dives at the Argentina captain's feet to stop him scoring.
Lionel Messi jumps over Vozinha - Marta Lavandier/AP
11:17pm
Cabral penalised for a foul on Messi just outside the box, but it looked like a well-timed challenge. Replays confirm that, he won the ball cleanly. Very poor decision. This could well be in shooting range for Messi, a little more than almost 30 yards and left of centre.
11:15pm
Argentina starting to dominate the ball now, but most of their possession is in front of Cape Verde's 5-4-1 defensive shape. Romero and Lisandro Martinez playing plenty of their passes.
First opening for Messi: Almada involving in the move with a reverse pass into the box, but Messi's left-footed shot from a tightish angle was dragged wide of the far post.
This has been an impressive start by Cape Verde, who have defended solidly and looked the more dangerous side in attack so far. They are doing well to prevent Argentina from progressing the ball into the final third.
11:11pm
Cabral lively going forward again for Cape Verde, fouled by Romero in midfield. Lopes tried to pick out a through ball into the penalty area but it runs through to Emi Martinez. Not exactly a flying start from Argentina, feeling their way into the game.
11:08pm
Another eye-catching moment from the Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, Cruyff-turning his way beyond Lautaro Martinez in his own penalty area. It has been a reasonably confident start from Cape Verde, with a Mendes cross deflecting off Cristian Romero back to Emi Martinez.
Ryan Mendes comes forward for Cape Verde - Marco Bello/Reuters
11:05pm
Argentina's right-back Molina goes down looking for a free-kick, claiming to be caught by a flailing arm from Cabral. But the referee tells him to get up.
At the other end, Cape Verde then taking a free-kick short and Cabral delivers a promising cross but Argentina head clear.
11:03pm
Pina with an early giveaway in midfield for Cape Verde, but Enzo Fernandez fails to punish that sloppy giveaway, overhitting a cross. Argentina defending from the from with a 4-3-1-2, close to a diamond in the middle. De Paul then underhits a pass whic the Cape Verde striker Da Costa almost pounced on.
11:00pm
Nice moment before kick-off as Cape Verde manager Bubista presents Scaloni with a pennant to keep.
Cape Verde get the game under way.
10:53pm
Blue and white shirts everywhere at the Hard Rock Stadium, you suspect a few locals have thrown their weight behind Messi too.
Megan Briggs/Getty Images
10:51pm
The Inter Miami owner is back in his perch, where was was seen drinking a glass of red wine during Scotland's defeat by Brazil at the Hard Rock Stadium. There has also been a sighting on Diego Simeone in the plush seats, which could make for a tense handshake. Simeone was the player Beckham kicked out at when he was sent off for England against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.
David Beckham owns Inter Miami - Michael Reaves/Getty Images
10:48pm
10:33pm
You can hardly move in Miami for Argentina supporters. There are blue-and-white shirts everywhere, in seemingly every corner of the city, and at a rough glance I would say they have taken over at least 95 per cent of the stadium tonight. There is a tiny section of Cape Verde fans behind one of the goals but I don't think we'll be hearing them.
Miami has been full of Argentina fans - Marco Bello/Reuters
10:27pm
The battle between Lionel Messi and Vozinha, Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper, must be one of the great mismatches of World Cup history. The best player of all time, up against a player who was almost completely unknown before this tournament.
Vozinha has won many admirers - Lynne Sladky/AP
10:24pm
Good evening from Miami, where it has been a sweltering, suffocating day. I made the mistake earlier of taking a 20-minute walk, and I was struggling badly by the end of it. I absolutely would not want to be playing football in these conditions. Admittedly, I am a pasty Englishman who is not used to such heat, but still…
The weather will surely suit Argentina here. Not only because Lionel Messi plays his club football in this city, and is therefore nicely acclimatised, but also because Argentina will dominate the ball throughout. Cape Verde are going to be doing A LOT of running.
The weather is typically humid in Miami - Marco Bello/Reuters
10:13pm
10:08pm
After mass rotation against Jordan, Scaloni makes nine changes to his Argentina side with Messi restored. Lautaro Martinez will do his running at centre-forward.
Argentina XI:Martnez, Medina, Martinez, Romero, Molina, Almada, Fernandez, Mac Allister, De Paul, Martinez, Messi
Cape Verde XI:Vozinha, Cabral, Borges, Lopes, Moreira, Pina, Cabral, D Duarte, L Duarte, Mendes, Da Costa
Cape Verde fans never thought they would get this far - Amanda Perobelli/Reuters
09:53pm
It will be Egypt for the winners of this game in the next round. They have just beaten Australia on penalties .
09:51pm
09:51pm
09:49pm
Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay have all played games in Miami, and now it is Argentina's turn in a city with a significant South American diaspora.
Argentina fans are growing in confidence - Megan Briggs/Getty Images
09:39pm
09:38pm
The defending champions have a favourable route to the final it seems, and you can play our interactive predictor to see if Argentina and Lionel Messi will go all the way.
09:35pm
With the likes of Maradona and Ali there is an archive of explosive interviews, and opinions offered without a second thought as to how they might affect the brand. None of it choreographed. In the end it was what people remembered of them beyond their sporting achievements, and it offered a view of the man in full. Flawed, and human, and interesting.
Messi lives in a time when none of that risk is necessary.
09:30pm
Argentina must play with the pressure of knowing that every World Cup match from this point could be Lionel Messi's last, but it would be an extraordinary upset were Cape Verde to halt the holders' progress.
Messi has been a delight to watch so far at the tournament, scoring six goals in four games and becoming the competition's all-time record scorer at the age of 39. France's Kylian Mbappé is doing his best to catch him up within the next fortnight, though.
Argentina fans will dominate the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where there is a sizeable Argentine diaspora and it is the stadium where Messi now plays his club football with Inter Miami. Messi is also playing in the knowledge that his father is seriously ill.
It should be noted that Argentina have benefited from a soft draw, with group stage games against Jordan, Algeria and Austria – who were made to look painfully average by Spain – posing little threat.
Victory over Cape Verde would put Argentina through to the last 16, where they will play Egypt. so the tournament has opened up nicely for the three-time winners.
Cape Verde have defied the odds by reaching this stage of their first ever World Cup, unbeaten after three groups games in which they conceded just two goals.
Their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha has become something of a cult hero for World Cup-watching neutrals, not least for his role in their goalless draw against Spain.
The pressure is completely off the African side, but their defence will be tested by Lionel Scaloni's world champions who have a very distinctive way of playing. They flood the central areas with numbers and look to ass their way through the middle, and their players are utterly committed to platforming Messi.
Full team news on the way shortly.
