Argentina reached the Round of 16 in the World Cup, beating Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time. The regular time ended in a 1-1 draw, and the winning goal was scored less than ten minutes before the end of overtime. The Argentines opened the scoring in the 29th minute. After a long pass from Lisandro Martinez, Lionel Messi scored accurately from close range, putting his team ahead. However, after the break, the tournament debutants managed to respond. Deroy Duarte took advantage of a pass in the penalty area and outplayed Emiliano Martinez, restoring parity. Before the end of regular time, Cape Verde was saved several times by goalkeeper Vozinha, which allowed the match to go into extra time. Argentina took the lead again early in extra time — after a corner kick, Lisandro Martinez scored. But this time, the Cape Verde team did not give up: in the 103rd minute, Sidney Lopes Cabral equalized with a beautiful shot into the top corner. The resolution came in the 111th minute. After a corner kick taken by Messi, Cristian Romero won the aerial duel, and Cape Verde defender Diney, trying to intercept the ball's flight, redirected it into his own net. The match was one of the most intense in this playoff. Cape Verde, participating in the World Cup for the first time, managed to equalize twice and was close to one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, but the reigning champions confirmed their class in the crucial moments. For Argentina, this victory means continuing the fight to defend their championship title, but the game showed that even favorites in this tournament face serious resistance early in the playoff stages. In the Round of 16, the Argentine national team will meet Egypt, which earlier triumphed over Australia in a penalty shootout. The 2026 World Cup is being held for the first time with 48 teams. The tournament is hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, and the winner will be known on July 19.