FIFA World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi’s Argentina with 14 times the market value ends debutant Cabo Verde's dream run in ‘Round of 32’ extra-time thriller

FIFA World Cup 2026: It was a night of action, drama, and jangling nerves at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, where Cabo Verde pushed defending champions Argentina into extra time in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash on Friday (July 3, 2026) local time. However, a decisive goal from Lionel Messi helped Argentina escape with a 3–2 victory, ending the Blue Sharks’ debut World Cup run in heartbreaking fashion. Beyond the scoreline, the matchup highlighted the gulf in resources between the two nations. Argentina’s squad is valued at $891.1 million USD, led by forward Julián Álvarez of Atlético de Madrid, whose market value stands at about $83.8 million USD.

The entire squad of Cabo Verde, an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands off the coast of West Africa totalling around 4,000 square kilometers, entire roster, by contrast, is worth approximately $62.2 million USD, with defender Logan Costa of Villarreal CF topping their list at $17.1 million USD, according to the website Transfer Market.

For Cabo Verde, however, this World Cup was about more than numbers. The Republic of Cabo Verde, an island nation of approximately around 5, 30,000 people spread across ten volcanic islands in the central Atlantic, had never before reached this stage. Their journey included a scoreless draw against Spain and two more dramatic group-stage ties that carried them into the knockout rounds.


At the heart of their story was 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, whose performances nearly engineered one of the greatest upsets in tournament history. The Blue Sharks’ rise has been steady. They have qualified for four of the last six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals twice. Under manager Pedro “Bubista” Brito and captain Ryan Mendes, Cabo Verde has established itself as a resilient force in African football.

Their debut on the global stage may have ended against Argentina, but Cabo Verde’s presence alone was historic. For a nation of barely half a million people, competing against the world champions and pushing them to the brink was proof that football’s magic lies in its ability to unite giants and underdogs alike.