After a hard-fought match, it was all respect, love and admiration between defending champions Argentina and FIFA World Cup debutants Cabo Verde, who bowed out of the tournament with heads held high despite defeat. When fans worldwide switched their devices on, many anticipated Lionel Messi's magic to outclass a valiant Cabo Verde, resulting in an easy win. But Cabo Verde and their goalie Vozinha almost spoiled the party, producing numerous saves despite Messi opening the scoring in the 29th minute and Cabo Verde equalizing in the 59th minute. Argentina regained the lead through Lisandro Martinez in the 92nd minute, but a Sidney Lopes strike in the 103rd minute intensified the action. An own goal from Diney Borges due to an unlucky deflection finally sealed the win for Argentina, securing their round of 16 spot.
Respect Between Legends
After the match, Vozinha and Messi, two of the tournament's age-defying wizards, shook hands in a show of respect. Vozinha, a goal-saving wall, and Messi, an unstoppable goal-scoring juggernaut, exchanged gestures of admiration. Messi continued his record-breaking spree at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, surpassing late compatriot Diego Maradona for most assists in World Cup history with nine assists, as per 433. Messi also became the first player to score in eight consecutive World Cup matches during Argentina's Round of 32 clash against Cabo Verde in Miami. The strike took Messi's overall World Cup tally to 20 goals, further cementing his status among the greatest players. He also became the first footballer to score seven goals in two separate FIFA World Cup editions, having netted seven times during Argentina's triumphant 2022 campaign in Qatar.
Vozinha's Historic Performance
Vozinha also made history, producing seven saves against Spain, the European champions, and eight saves against Argentina (as per ESPN FC). He made a total of 18 saves in the tournament; the only goalkeepers aged 40 or older to register more saves at a single World Cup are Peter Shilton (28 in 1990 for England) and Dino Zoff (27 in 1982 for Italy), as per OptaJoe. Only Paraguay's Orlando Gill (19) and Curacao's Ely Room (20) made more saves than him during the tournament. Cabo Verde played unbeaten against three world champion teams: 2010 champions Spain, two-time champions Uruguay, and defending champions Argentina. They scored four goals, conceded five, drew three matches, and lost one.
Cabo Verde Players as Fanboys
Cabo Verde players did not hide their admiration for Messi, with some taking pictures with the Argentina icon after he finished answering journalists in the media mixed zone. Before the match, Vozinha expressed deep admiration for Argentina and Messi, saying, as quoted by Goal.com, "None of us dreamed of this, but we know we have quality... It is gratifying to have qualified for the next phase, and facing Argentina will be very good. It is a dream for any footballer to play against Argentina and Lionel Messi."
Scaloni and Messi Acknowledge Cabo Verde
Head coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged how the debutants made things difficult, saying, "A really tough match... I have to give credit to our opponents--the truth is, when people say there is no such thing as an easy opponent, today [Cabo Verde] proved they are a great team." Messi added, "We knew it was going to be a very tough game. It is no coincidence that this team had not lost to Spain or Uruguay. We did the hardest thing, which was getting that first goal... This is knockout football, and nobody gives you anything for free."
