Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, narrowly avoided an upset against tournament debutant Cape Verde, winning 3-2 in extra time during the 2026 World Cup knockout stage. Despite fielding star player Lionel Messi, who scored Argentina's initial goal in the 29th minute, the team displayed a complacent attitude after taking the lead, allowing Cape Verde to equalize and mount significant pressure. Cape Verde, the smallest nation to ever reach a World Cup knockout round, impressed with strong defense and goalkeeping from Vozinha. Center backs Lisandro Martínez and Cristian "Cuti" Romero scored the decisive goals in extra time, securing Argentina's progression to face Egypt in the round of 16. Coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged the match as a significant learning experience, while Messi expressed frustration with the team's loss of composure. Argentina must elevate its performance against increasingly challenging opponents to defend its title.