Reigning champions Argentina needed an extra-time own goal to beat debutants Cape Verde in one of the best games of the knockout stages. Messi’s side won the game 3-2 in a thrilling contest to book their place in the round of 16.

The small African nation, playing its first World Cup, scored two goals in response to Argentina’s double to silence the entire stadium of 64,478 fans, mostly in support of Argentina, in a hot and humid Miami Stadium. It was Lionel Messi who had created something special to beat the resilient Cape Verde in the second half of extra time.

Yet as he closed in on the defenders, shooting from the box, Cristian Romero rose to head home off the arm of Cape Verde centre-back Diney Borges and finally set up a date with Egypt in Atlanta next Tuesday.

Argentina was expected to win the contest with relative ease, though the fight and resistance that Cape Verde showed made the blue and whites and their fans nervous throughout the contest.

Cape Verde were beaten but far from outclassed by the three-time world champions as they put in a fourth magnificent display of teamwork and grit at their first World Cup.

The tiny African side has played some exceptional football despite being debutants at this World Cup. They frustrated Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in group-stage draws. The defence they had put up against Argentina was remarkable and surely earned a lot of praise from football pundits and fans alike.