Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina narrowly avoided the biggest upset in World Cup history, defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time after blowing two leads, to advance to the round of 16.Messi opened the scoring in the first half by extending his own record with a 20th career World Cup goal, and it looked like Argentina may cruise to a win over Cape Verde, the smallest nation to ever reach the knockout stage. But Deroy Duarte found the equalizer in the 59th minute and the African side held on to force the match to extra time – where things got crazy.Lisandro Martinez scored just two minutes into the extra period and again, it looked like Argentina was let off the hook. But Sidny Lopes Cabral scored one of the best goals you’ll ever see to tie it up, a long-range effort from a tough angle.But in the second period of extra time, Argentina found the winner off a corner kick, going down as an own goal by Cape Verde’s Diney Borge.Argentina will face Egypt in the round of 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday, June 7 in Atlanta.Get your Lionel Messi jersey!Where to watch Argentina vs Cape VerdeTV channel: FoxLive stream: Fubo or the Fox One AppSpanish language: Telemundo and PeacockWatch every World Cup game with FuboArgentina goal! Champions lead againArgentina found the back of the net minutes into the second period of extra time, with a corner kick deflecting off Cape Verde's Diney Borges past Vozinha.Halftime in extra time! Argentina 2, Cape Verde 2We'll head into the final 15 minutes of extra time with the game all tied up.Cape Verde goal! Level again in extra timeSidny Lopes Cabral scored one of the finest goals you will ever see. What a stunner, we're tied 2-2 again.Lisandro Martinez goal! Argentina back in frontDefender Lisandro Martinez pounced on a ball in the box and smashed it past Vozinha, giving Argentina another lead in the 92nd minute.Extra time in Miami!We'll need an additional 30 minutes – and possibly penalty kicks – to decide this round of 32 match between Argentina and Cape Verde, which could go down as one of the great upsets in sports history.88th minute: Penalty shout for Argentina!Argentina players called for a handball in the penalty area, with a header taking an awkward deflection off a Cape Verde player. VAR says no.84th minute: Still 1-1Cape Verde continues to sit deep and defend, now just six minutes from the end of regulation.Vozinha save on Messi free kick!Lionel Messi caught everyone by surprise taking a free kick from right outside the box while the wall was still getting set up, but Cape Verde's goalkeeper made an unbelievable save it to keep it 1-1 heading into the hydration break.69' Yellow to Cape VerdeCape Verde's Kevin Pina sees yellow for taking Messi down not far from the top of the box.His free kick, though, goes into the wall with Argentina still looking for the shot that puts it back in the lead.67' Changes for Cape Verde as wellHere's MLS veteran Jamiro Montiero and Dailon Livramento into the contest for Cape Verde with Nuno Da Costa and Laros Duarte.Might as well go for it here.64' Argentina makes a pair of changesLevel again, it's two changes from Scaloni with Lautaro Martinez out for Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada out with Nico Gonzalez coming in.64' SAVE! Messi is through but Vozinha makes the stop!Well, it seemed like that was the chance, but Messi can't go to his left and puts the right-footed effort on goal where the Cape Verde goalkeeper is up to the task.GOAL! Cape Verde finds the equalizer!Duarte doesn't miss that one! The Argentina fans filling the venue are stunned. Mendes puts a square pass in to Duarte, who finishes from a tight angle to bring things level!Is there a shock cooking up here?54' Cape Verde SHOT through trafficDeroy Duarte gets onto the end of a heavy touch from an Argentine defender, but Argentina goalkeeper Dibu Martinez is there to make the stop.52' A chance for MolinaA long ball from the right side sounds Nahuel Molina alone at the back post, but the ball is just too far in front of him for him to be able to bring down.49' Cape Verde cornerIt goes in to the back post where a pair of Cape Verde players collide with each other as they go for the header. Argentina is able to clear and continues to lead by the smallest possible margin.Second half underway in MiamiCape Verde and Argentina have kicked off the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Can Cape Verde find an equalizer or will the defending champion turn this into a blowout?HALFTIME: Argentina 1, Cape Verde 0Lionel Messi's 20th career World Cup goal in the 29th minute gave Argentina a 1-0 lead, his seventh in this tournament. Cape Verde hasn't had much of the ball and the Argentines have pushed hard for another.37 minutes: Argentina still up 1-0Messi's goal is the difference between the two sides as we're less than 10 minutes from halftime.It's Messi's eighth consecutive World Cup game with a goal, extending his own record.Messi goal! Argentina leads 1-0Who else but Lionel Messi? The 39-year-old hauled down a long ball in the box and blasted past Vozinha for his 20th career World Cup goal.Hydration break! Still scorelessCape Verde has held Argentina in check for the first 22 minutes, heading into the hydration break with the score 0-0.Messi free kick stopped by VozinhaLionel Messi had a shot at goal on a long free kick, but Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha had an easy tie handling.Argentina fans subdued with slow startThe crowd in Miami is full of Argentines, but perhaps because of that the stadium is more subdued than it was during Argentina's group stage matches. There are songs popping up, but there are also periods of silence as the Albiceleste move the ball around the field trying to puncture this Cape Verde block.– Jon ArnoldMessi looks to extend record scoring streakArgentina's Lionel Messi is the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup games, dating back to the 2022 tournament in Qatar, won by Argentina.We're scoreless through 10 minutes here in Miami.Rodrigo De Paul called for foulThis game looks early like it could be a testy one and Argentina's midfielder (and Messi's Inter Miami teammate) is whistled in the opening minutes for a hard tackle.Argentina vs Cape Verde kicks off in Miami!The match is underway at Hard Rock Stadium.Argentina lineup todayArgentina starters: Dibu Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago AlmadaCape Verde lineup todayCape Verde starters: Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico Lopes, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Ryan Mendes (captain), Nuno da Costa.Ryan Mendes starting for Cape VerdeForward Ryan Mendes, captain of Cape Verde’s World Cup team, is starting tonight’s round-of-32 match against defending champion Argentina at Hard Rock Stadium.Mendes appeared in all three of the Blue Sharks’ group-stage matches but did not score or have an assist.Mendes is under investigation for rape in New Zealand, according to Brazil’s Globo. Mendes is accused of sexually assaulting a woman who worked as a translator for the team during its visit to New Zealand.David Beckham in the house for Argentina gameWhat time is Argentina game vs Cape Verde?The matchup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET.Argentina vs Cape Verde prediction, expert picksSeth Vertelney: Argentina 3-0 Cape VerdeCape Verde has been a nice story but facing Argentina in a World Cup knockout game in steamy Miami will be too much to overcome.Jon Arnold: Argentina 4-0 Cape VerdeArgentina already has been able to dismantle a team trying to sit back and defend. Behind a partisan crowd, it will do it without too much of a sweat, even in steamy Miami.Jesse Yomtov: Argentina 4-0 Cape VerdeCape Verde had its fun here but this ruthless Argentina team isn't going to go soft as things kick into high gear.Victoria Hernandez: Argentina 3-1 Cape VerdeEven though Cape Verde's journey is nothing short of incredible, Lionel Messi and Argentina will have no mercy in the win-or-go-home match.Where is Argentina vs Cape Verde game?The round of 32 match is being held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have?Entering Friday’s round of 32 game, Lionel Messi has scored 19 goals in his career at the FIFA World Cup, more than any player in history.Argentina World Cup historyLa Albiceleste has won the World Cup three times: 1978, 1986 and 2022.Argentina also finished runner-up in 1990 and 2014. The country has qualified for every World Cup except one (1970) since 1958.How tall is Messi?Argentina’s Lionel Messi is 5 feet, 7 inches tall.When is the 2026 World Cup final?The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.World Cup bracketExplore the updated bracket with USA TODAY Sports here.