2026 World Cup: Martínez stuns as Argentina beat Cape Verde
At the 2026 World Cup, defending champions Argentina narrowly advanced from the Round of 32 after a 3-2 extra-time win over debutant Cape Verde on July 3. The match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami looked shaky for La Albiceleste, until Lisandro Martínez delivered.
In the 2026 World Cup clash, Martínez first set up Lionel Messi with a 42.5-meter diagonal pass for the opening goal. Later, with Argentina and Cape Verde level and extra time running out, Martínez scored in the 93rd minute to restore the lead that Argentina held.
The performance also marked key milestones: Martínez recorded his first international assist across 31 caps, his first World Cup goal, and his second international goal overall. He became the first Argentine defender since 1966 to both score and assist in the same World Cup match.
Cape Verde, a small island nation of around 500,000 people making their World Cup debut, pushed Argentina into extra time with late comebacks twice. The final 3-2 score after extra time underlined how closely the underdogs matched the champions.
Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16.
Neutral
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