World Cup: Cape Verde Joins Nigeria In Exclusive Goalscoring Record

Cape Verde has officially joined Nigeria’s Super Eagles as the only African nations to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match against Argentina.

The historic milestone was achieved following their thrilling 3-2 extra-time defeat to the South American giants in the Round of 32 of the ongoing 2026 tournament in Miami.

Making their maiden World Cup appearance, the Blue Sharks also set a completely new benchmark.

They now hold the unique distinction of being the first African side in the competition’s history to score more than one goal in a match against a defending world champion.

The West African debutants showed incredible resilience, twice pulling level with Lionel Messi’s Argentina before their eventual exit. Deroy Duarte canceled out Messi’s opener with a clinical 59th-minute strike to force the match into extra time.

After Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s lead early in the extra period, Sidny Lopes Cabral delivered a stunning curling effort in the 103rd minute to tie the game again.

However, a heartbreaking 111th-minute own goal by defender Diney Borges, who deflected a powerful Cristian Romero header into his own net, ultimately sent Argentina through to the Round of 16.

With this valiant performance, Cape Verde became only the second African country to score two or more goals in a World Cup fixture against the Albiceleste. Nigeria first achieved the impressive feat during the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

The Super Eagles claimed their piece of history in a pulsating Group F finale at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre on June 25, 2014.

Ahmed Musa scored a spectacular brace in a 3-2 defeat that still provided enough points to send Nigeria into the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 1998.

In that unforgettable encounter, Messi gave Argentina an early lead within three minutes. Musa responded almost instantly with a curling shot off a pass from Michael Babatunde, recording Nigeria’s fastest-ever response to a conceded goal at a World Cup.

Messi struck again with a brilliant free-kick just before halftime. Musa refused to back down, combining with Emmanuel Emenike to level the match two minutes into the second half.

Marcos Rojo eventually secured the win for Argentina three minutes later with a close-range finish from a corner kick.

Musa’s outstanding performance that day earned him the official Man of the Match award ahead of Messi. The Argentine captain later described the Nigerian forward as one of the finest players he had ever faced on the pitch.

Twelve years later, Cape Verde’s defiant showing against Argentina has drawn widespread and deserved comparisons to Nigeria’s 2014 heroics.

Arriving in the knockout rounds on the back of impressive group stage draws against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, the Blue Sharks leave North America having firmly cemented their place in African football history alongside the Super Eagles.