Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterSidny Lopes Cabral had made his family a promise. If he scored against Argentina, he would find his relatives in the stands and celebrate with them.Cabral delivered, uncorking a jaw-dropping contender for best goal of the 2026 World Cup before sprinting over to his loved ones for a euphoric embrace that symbolized Cape Verde's improbable run on football's biggest stage.Cape Verde bows out of World Cup in thrilling 3-2 loss to Messi's ArgentinaThe joy lasted only so long, as the African island nation's participation at the World Cup came to an end on Friday night at Miami Stadium via a dramatic 3-2 extra-time defeat to Lionel Messi and the reigning champions.Latest Videos FromWatch full video here: The Round of 32 loss was gut-wrenching given that the tournament debutants had pushed Argentina to the brink against all odds, but not even the pain of elimination would diminish a stellar overall showing that changed how much of the world views Cape Verde.Cape Verde pulls even AGAIN vs Argentina Sidny Lopes Cabral curls in STUNNING goal in extra time - YouTubeWatch On "We tried to do our best to make not only our country proud but also Africa, and I think we did something good," winger Willy Semedo said. You may like Insane drama as Argentina and Cape Verde put on one of the greatest games in World Cup history How to watch Argentina vs Cape Verde for FREE How did Cape Verde qualify for World Cup 2026? "We showed our quality, we showed our football. We did our best and we are just proud of what we have done. We just hope we can continue like this."Few observers expected the Blue Sharks to make much noise in their first World Cup appearance, but they became one of the feel-good stories of the competition with their organized style of play, dogged determination, and unwavering belief.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Cape Verde first stunned Spain in a scoreless draw before tying Uruguay 2-2 in another wild affair in Miami. A goal-less stalemate with Saudi Arabia followed, earning the African underdogs a second-place finish in Group H.Friday, however, offered the clearest example of why Cape Verde captured the hearts of so many fans worldwide. The start of the knockout rounds pitted Pedro Leitao Brito's men against another Goliath, and they responded with arguably their finest game yet.Cape Verde LEVELS score vs Argentina Deroy Duarte finds equalizer in second half - YouTubeWatch On "People always tend to underestimate some teams because of their name, but we knew this was not going to be at all easy," Messi said. "This World Cup especially has shown that everything is evenly matched and very difficult. Every game is going to be incredibly tough." What to read next Roberto 'Pico' Lopes: the Irish Cape Verde international whose bizarre call-up led to World Cup glory Cape Verde World Cup squad 2026: Bubista's squad for the Blue Sharks' World Cup debut Argentina vs Cape Verde prediction as Lionel Messi show rolls into Miami Demonstrating tactical discipline, the compact Blue Sharks frustrated Argentina early by defending with all 11 players behind the ball. The South Americans still found the breakthrough via another moment of Messi magic just before the half-hour mark, taking a narrow lead into halftime.Then, came the first stunner of the evening in the 59th minute.Central midfielder Deroy Duarte delivered Cape Verdes initial equalizer, collecting a nutmegged pass from the right and finishing with a cross-body effort that slipped through centerback Lisandro Martinez's legs and just over goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martinez's attempted right-footed kick save.The Cape Verdeans erupted in celebration, with players on the field and small pockets of fans in the stands jumping while their Argentine counterparts watched in disbelief."These are do-or-die games and no one gifts you anything," Messi said.Sidny Lopes Cabral thunders home a breathtaking goalCape Verde grew from there against a tiring Argentina, which began to look out of answers after a 1-on-1 chance from Messi was denied incredibly by 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha in the 63rd minute.A quiet tension became palpable as regulation ended on even terms, especially since Cape Verde finished the 90 minutes noticeably sharper and more aggressive. The Argentines temporarily quelled the unease by taking a 2-1 lead in the second minute of extra time, but that advantage was canceled out in spectacular fashion.In the 103rd minute, Lopes Cabral cut inside of midfielder Alexis Mac Allister to create enough space for a shot from just inside the left part of the 18-yard box. The fullbacks blast soared into the top right corner for Cape Verde's second tying goal of the match, prompting incredible scenes."I did not believe it. I did not believe I scored," Lopes Cabral said. "You saw me with my hands on my head, and then I saw all my teammates. I then had to celebrate with my mother and my girlfriend."Lopes Cabral's otherworldly finish and heartfelt celebration in the crowd gave Cape Verdeans a reason to think the improbable was possible while simultaneously striking fear in Argentines everywhere.Lionel Messi spoke postgame and had a lump on the right side of his forehead.He spoke a decent bit about how difficulty the game proved to be and how thats been the case throughout this World Cup during his brief flash interview.#FIFAWorldCup #Messi #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/tsq1Amj9OAJuly 4, 2026That unbelievable and brilliant equalizer was, however, as good as it got for Cape Verde. Argentina forced a decisive own goal to avoid penalties and a possibly shocking result, eliminating the heartbroken Blue Sharks on arguably the finest night of their first World Cup.The Africans bowed out of the tournament without a victory after going 0-3-1, but the valiant performances put forth in all four matches won them respect from opponents and neutrals alike.Cape Verde may have entered the World Cup as an unknown underdog, but the team proved over the past weeks it can compete on the biggest stage. Trading blows with Messi and Argentina for 120 riveting minutes helped reinforce that."It was an amazing game, but unfortunately we could not advance," Semedo said. "It is okay. It is part of football. We played against one of the best teams in the world and against one of the best players in the world."We just have to be proud and try to come back in 2030."TOPICSCape Verde IslandsArgentinaFranco PanizoSocial Links NavigationFranco Panizois a seasoned bilingual futbol journalist based in Miami with almost two decades of experience covering the Beautiful Game at all levels, including the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Copa America.He is one of the original core reporters covering Lionel Messi and David Beckham at Inter Miami from on the ground in SouthFlorida, creating the independentMiami Total FutbolYouTube channel and podcast back in 2020.Franco is fluent in Spanish, and previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper and DAZN. His work has also been featured at the Miami Herald, ESPN, the Athletic, and more.
