04/07/2026 14:55 - Deportes
According to El Chorrillero, on July 3, 2026, at a packed Hard Rock Stadium in Miami filled with Argentine fans, the National Team took another step towards defending their title by defeating a surprising Cape Verde side 3-2. The victory in extra time secured their spot in the Round of 16, where they will face Egypt on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Atlanta.
Lionel Messi, the team captain at 39 years old, was once again the center of attention. Before the match, during the warm-up, he was seen looking for his family in the stands; upon finding them, he offered a warm smile and a wave. On the pitch, he opened the scoring with a masterful control of a long pass from Lisandro Martinez, shooting over the famous goalkeeper Vozinha to score.
Emiliano 'Dibu' Martinez, sporting an Argentine flag in his hair, had a curious incident. From his penalty area, he kicked a ball with such power that it hit one of the stadium's aerial cameras, causing it to wobble. Being the gentleman he is, he immediately raised his arm to apologize to the operator in a sequence that quickly went viral.
The stands were filled with celebrities like Shakira, but the biggest surprise came from Diego 'Cholo' Simeone, the famous manager of Atletico Madrid. Accompanied by his partner, Carla Pereyra, and his daughters, he was spotted dancing without a care in the world to the 'cumbia de los trapos' (a traditional Argentine fan song usually sung in stadiums), contrasting with his usual sober and intense touchline persona.
Before the opening whistle, the Cape Verde manager, Pedro Leitao Brito, known as 'Bubista', approached the Argentine bench to greet coach Lionel Scaloni and gift him a pennant featuring the map of the 10 islands of his country, in a great gesture of camaraderie. Despite Argentina's initial lead, Cape Verde made things complicated. Deroy Duarte scored the 1-1 after a nutmeg and a lapse in concentration from Enzo Fernandez; the popular streamer 'Speed', a known fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, celebrated wildly among the Argentine fans, causing some friction.
The suffering continued in extra time: Lisandro Martinez made it 2-1, but Sidny Cabral equalized with a Messi-worthy goal. Finally, Cuti Romero headed the ball in to seal the definitive 3-2, bringing joy to an entire nation and leaving an unforgettable postcard on American soil.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
