Argentina needed extra time to move past a resilient Cabo Verde in the World Championship Round of 32 at Hard Rock Stadium. In front of 64,478 fans in Miami Gardens, the holders advanced 3-2 after a tense 120 minutes. Lionel Messi scored in the first half and took Player of the Match honors with a Sofascore Rating of 9.5. Lisandro Martínez added a crucial extra-time goal and later saw an own goal decide the tie. Cabo Verde punched back with two second‑half and extra‑time strikes, but the decisive moment went Argentina’s way. On the balance of play and the underlying numbers, Lionel Scaloni’s side earned it.

How the Round of 32 tie swung across 120 minutes

Argentina struck first in the 29th minute. Lisandro Martínez stepped forward and slipped Messi in, and the captain finished to put his team 1-0 up. Cabo Verde reset at half-time and found an equalizer on 59 minutes when Deroy Duarte converted from a Ryan Mendes assist. The game tilted Argentina’s way again after the changes, with Julián Álvarez and Nicolás González entering on 63 minutes to add legs in attack. It took extra time for the breakthrough to return, and it came from an unlikely finisher. At 93 minutes, Martínez arrived to steer in Alexis Mac Allister’s pass for 2-1. Cabo Verde refused to fade and leveled at 103 minutes through Sidny Lopes Cabral. The tie looked set for penalties before a cruel turn at 111 minutes, when Diney Borges diverted into his own net for 3-2. Gonzalo Montiel collected a late yellow card as Argentina saw it out to the final whistle. Referee Drew Fischer allowed three minutes of stoppage time in each extra-time period, but there would be no further twist.

What the stats say

Argentina controlled the match with 64 percent possession and 849 passes to 476, pinning Cabo Verde back for long spells. The expected goals told a similar story, 2.16 to 0.45, underscoring the quality of chances the Albiceleste created. They produced 22 shots to 16, hitting the target 10 times to 5 and firing 15 efforts from inside the box. There were 51 Argentine touches in the penalty area compared with 16 for Cabo Verde, helped by seven accurate through balls to none. Final-third entries also favored Argentina by 82 to 57, while they completed 238 of 285 actions in that zone at an 84 percent clip. Out wide the teams split the crossing battle at 6 accurate crosses each, though Argentina needed fewer attempts to get there. Cabo Verde leaned on their goalkeeper to stay alive; Vozinha made eight saves and finished as their best performer. On the other end, Emiliano Martínez faced less volume and made three saves, with both keepers posting marginal negative goals prevented in a back-and-forth finish. Argentina also edged duels 52 to 48 percent and won 59 percent of their tackles, pointing to control in key moments.

Player of the Match: Lionel Messi (Sofascore Rating 9.5)

Messi’s full 120 minutes were a clinic in chance creation and shot volume. He scored once from nine total shots, testing Vozinha with six on target. Beyond the finish, he created four key passes and one big chance, threading nine crosses with four finding a teammate. The underlying numbers back up the eye test, with 1.26 expected goals and 0.72 expected assists recorded on Sofascore. He drew five fouls, carried the ball 33 times, and racked up 83 touches as Argentina’s attacking hub. He also tracked back for a tackle and recovered a loose ball in a complete captain’s shift. The only blemish was a big chance missed, which says more about his constant threat than any wastefulness. In a knockout tie decided in extra time, his weight of involvement mattered most. Only Lisandro Martínez came close to his influence, returning a 9.3 Sofascore Rating with a goal, an assist, and 117 accurate passes. For Cabo Verde, an outstanding Vozinha kept them in the contest with eight saves and an 8.4 Rating.

Supporting roles and tactical tweaks

Lisandro Martínez was immense on both sides of the ball. He completed 117 of 120 passes, scored once, and assisted Messi’s opener, while adding six clearances and an interception. Cristian Romero matched the composure in the back line, hitting 112 accurate passes and winning six duels, and even threatened with one shot. In midfield, Rodrigo De Paul stitched play with 73 of 77 passes completed, two accurate crosses and a team-high 0.61 expected assists. Alexis Mac Allister quietly stacked useful touches, set up Martínez at 93 minutes, and finished with two key passes and six ball recoveries. Enzo Fernández was busy, leading Argentina in touches with 133, firing four shots with two on target, and carrying the ball progressively through midfield. From the bench, Leandro Paredes added control late, completing 39 of 41 passes and posting a 7.3 Sofascore Rating in 36 minutes. Out wide, Nahuel Molina worked the flank for 104 minutes before Montiel relieved him, and Nicolás Tagliafico provided sturdy minutes to close. For Cabo Verde, Sidny Lopes Cabral’s goal and seven crosses showed attacking ambition from full back, while Deroy Duarte finished with a goal and 7.3 Rating to cap a strong display.

Golden Boot watch after Miami

This knockout tie featured three individual scorers, with Messi, Duarte and Sidny Lopes Cabral each adding one to their tournament totals. Own goals do not count toward the Golden Boot, so the decisive late touch for 3-2 stays off every striker’s ledger. Within the 120 minutes, Messi led all players for shot volume with nine attempts and six on target, a useful indicator for any scoring race. He also generated 1.26 xG, a number that tends to reward forwards over a longer sample. Julián Álvarez and Nicolás González were active off the bench, but the former had just one shot and the latter failed to convert from two attempts this time. Lautaro Martínez worked hard but did not record a shot before making way in the 63rd minute. For Cabo Verde, both Duarte and Cabral leave the competition with a goal on the night, which pauses their Golden Boot bids. Argentina’s underlying metrics point to more chances ahead, with 51 touches in the box and seven through balls suggesting volume for their forwards in the next round. Based on the data we have here, the key Golden Boot takeaway is straightforward. Messi improved his position by scoring and by sustaining elite shot and chance creation numbers.

Argentina advance with their attack humming and their stars in rhythm. Cabo Verde exit after pushing the world No. 1 deep into extra time. For live momentum swings, shot maps, and all future Sofascore Ratings across the World Championship, keep the Sofascore app close.