Watch Cape Verde equalise against Argentina, leaving Lionel Messi stunned

Lionel Messi couldn’t believe his eyes as Cape Verde hit back against Argentina.

The clash between the reigning champions and the feel-good team of the tournament at Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida, USA, has captivated sporting enthusiasts from across the globe.

Lionel Messi perplexed as Cape Verde score

In the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Cape Verde won the hearts of fans with their tremendous performances, securing draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

However, advancing to the knockout stage of the competition was meant to be where their story ended, with Argentina beating them at a canter. However, it wasn’t that simple.

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When Lionel Messi scored in the first half, the match looked over, with the South American side expected to bolster their lead. However, after 59 minutes, the smallest country in the competition had not only remained in the contest, but was about to do something that would go down in history forever.

In a moment of magic, Cape Verde produced an excellent piece of play, with the ball ending up at the feet of Deroy Duarte, who smashed it into the back of the net to send the crowd into raptures.

The camera panned to Messi, whose face painted 1000 thousand words, with the legend of the sport left shocked to his core over what had just transpired.

Alas, Cape Verde couldn’t hold off its opponents forever, with Lisandro Martinez scoring in extra time. But that wasn’t the end of the tale, as Sidny Lopes Cabral bagged one of the goals of the entire competition to keep his side firmly in the match. But in the end, a Diney own goal was enough to send the African nation home.

Featured Image Credit: Getty