Argentina president Javier Milei hailed the national men's football team after they secured a round of 16 berth in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, following a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Cabo Verde on July 4, 2026.
Presidential Praise on Social Media
Shortly after the match, Milei posted on X (formerly Twitter): "VAMOS ARGENTINA CARAJO...!!!" which roughly translates to "Let's Go Argentina, Damn It!" The post reflected the intense emotions of a match that saw the defending champions pushed to their limits by the tournament debutants.
Match Summary: A Thrilling Contest
Cabo Verde, appearing in the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, started brightly and tested Argentina early through Ryan Mendes. However, the South American giants gradually asserted control. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Lionel Messi produced a moment of brilliance, controlling Lisandro Martinez's diagonal pass before firing into the roof of the net. The strike marked his seventh goal of the tournament, taking him to the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Argentina looked comfortable before halftime, but Cabo Verde returned with renewed intensity after the break. Their persistence paid off just before the hour mark when Mendes released Deroy Duarte, who finished confidently from a tight angle to score his country's first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout-stage goal and level the contest.
Extra Time Drama
Despite creating several chances, Argentina were repeatedly denied by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, whose outstanding saves from Messi kept the scores level and forced the match into extra time. Argentina restored their advantage almost immediately as Lisandro Martinez converted from close range following a corner in the 92nd minute. Yet Cabo Verde refused to back down, with Sidny Lopes Cabral producing a stunning curling effort in the 103rd minute from a tight angle to make it 2-2 once again.
The decisive moment came in the 111th minute when Messi's corner was met by Romero, whose powerful header took a slight deflection off Diney Borges before finding the back of the net. Cabo Verde nearly forced penalties late on, but Emiliano Martinez produced a vital save to deny Lopes Cabral's powerful free-kick and secure Argentina's progress.
Impact and Next Steps
With this win, Argentina advances to the round of 16, keeping their title defense alive. The team will now prepare for their next opponent, with Messi leading the Golden Boot race. According to the Argentine president's social media post, the nation's support remains unwavering after this hard-fought victory.
