Magical World Cup ride of Vozinha and Cape Verde ends after pushing Messi and Argentina to the brink

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — All that Vozinha originally wanted out of this World Cup was for his mother to see him play.

He got that — and so much more.

Cape Verde didn’t win a single match at this year's World Cup, and somehow, that didn’t seem to matter. The African team's debut on this stage was unforgettable, thanks largely to the 40-year-old goalkeeper who nearly engineered a soccer story that would have been counted among the greatest upsets in sports history.

Cape Verde’s magical ride ended Friday in the round of 32, with the Blue Sharks falling to Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina — as most likely expected. Final score: Champions 3, Cinderella 2, in extra time — as probably very few expected.

And with that, the journey ended. There was a scoreless draw against Spain to open the tournament, with Vozinha leading the way, which led to the captivating tale surrounding the global collaborative effort it took to get his mother to the U.S. to watch matches in the group stage. There were two more dramatic draws that were good enough for Cape Verde to get out of the group stage and into the knockout round.

But it took a goal and an assist off a corner kick from Messi to save mighty Argentina, which got the game-winner midway through the second half of extra time, 2½ hours in real time after the David vs. Goliath showdown started. Goliath was pushed to the absolute brink, with Vozinha standing tall against the world’s top-ranked team – and the world’s best player – time and time again.

There were no fewer than four elite saves by Vozinha against Messi alone in the final 60 minutes of the match.

— A point-blank stop in the 63rd minute after Messi tried to power a right-footed shot past the keeper, who came off his line to cut down the angle and absorbed the shot with his body.

— A free kick from Messi in the 73rd seemed destined to curl into the right side of the net; Vozinha got just enough of an outstretched gloved hand on that one to knock it away to preserve what was then a 1-1 score.

— Messi went low with a free kick in injury time; Vozinha managed to see the ball through a wall of bodies and dropped to his knees to make a save.

— Late in the first 15-minute extra time period, Messi collected a deflected ball at the top of the penalty area and fired. Vozinha dove to his left, punching that one aside as well.

Cape Verde, the smallest nation in terms of land mass to make the World Cup and a nation with a population about 1% the size of Argentina's, will get $11 million from FIFA for making it this far in the tournament.

Of course, the Blue Sharks got a lot more than money. They became known on soccer's biggest stage.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) makes a save on a shot by Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) during the first half of extra time in the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) reacts after Argentina's Lisandro Martinez scored a goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) reacts after allowing a goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha fails to stop a shot by Argentina's Lisandro Martinez during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) is scored on by Argentina's Lisandro Martinez during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi scored again, making Friday’s contest against Cape Verde the record-extending eighth consecutive World Cup match in which Argentina’s captain delivered at least one goal.

Messi’s goal in the 29th minute was the 20th of his World Cup career, extending his record and moving him two ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé on the all-time list. It was the opener of what became a wild night, with Argentina escaping with a 3-2 win in extra time against a huge underdog.

Messi has seven goals in this World Cup — one more than Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the tournament — and has scored 12 times in his last eight World Cup matches.

“For me, it represents a lot to be friends with him,” said Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate with Argentina and Inter Miami. “For me, friendship is one of the most important things that we all have and I consider myself fortunate to be there, to share these moments with him.”

And there has been no shortage of moments.

Messi had the game's first good chance Friday, his all-world left foot sending a shot skidding across the goal mouth but outside of the right post in the 15th minute. After getting taken down, he had a 25-yard free kick three minutes later that was easily gobbled up by Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

But the momentum was shifting, and before long, Messi broke through for a 1-0 lead. He timed his run perfectly on a ball played into the box by defender Lisandro Martinez to stay onside, controlled the pass and then lifted a shot over Vozinha's left shoulder from close range for his 124th international goal. Only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 146, has more.

Messi stretched his arms and pointed to Martinez, saluting the pass, before teammates mobbed him in celebration.

Messi and Mbappé are far from the only contenders in the Golden Boot race: Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Harry Kane each had five goals entering Friday, while four players — France’s Ousmane Dembele, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior and Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr — had four. Sarr is out of the running since Senegal has been eliminated.

Norway, England and France have advanced to the Round of 16; Argentina and Messi, the Inter Miami star who is widely considered the greatest player ever, now join them — barely, after needing a second extra-time goal to finally top Cape Verde.

Messi has never won the Golden Boot. He finished second with seven goals — one behind Mbappé — while leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, and he tied for third with four goals in 2014.

If there’s a tie atop the goal list when the tournament ends, FIFA will use assists as the first tiebreaker and fewest minutes played as the second tiebreaker. Entering Friday, that meant Mbappé would have had the edge over Messi based on his 2-0 lead in assists.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Cape Verde during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with Cristian Romero (13) after scoring their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) scores their first goal against Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) and Diney Borges (3) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Cape Verde during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Cape Verde during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Lionel Messi looks toward teammates during a training session on the eve of the team's World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's Lionel Messi eyes a ball during a training session on the eve of the team's World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, talks with Rodrigo De Paul during a training session on the eve of the team's World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

A fan carries a giant banner depicting Lionel Messi as Argentina fans gather to celebrate and show support for their team at a beachfront park in Miami Beach, Fla., Thursday, July 2, 2026, one day ahead of Argentina's World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's Lionel Messi spalshes water on his head to cool down during a training session on the eve of the team's World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)