'Cheating team exposed': Fans slam Lionel Messi and Argentina as Cape Verde win hearts in World Cup thriller

Fans criticize Lionel Messi and Argentina after World Cup heroics in Cape Verde. (Image via: X) Argentina escaped one of the biggest scares of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time in a dramatic round of 32 encounter. Lionel Messi scored another historic World Cup goal but the defending champions were pushed to the limit by a fearless Cape Verdean side who refused to back down.Even though Argentina secured their place in the round of 16, the debate didn’t stop even after the final whistle. Instead, fans flooded social media timelines with admiration for Cape Verde’s extraordinary performance, saying the tournament newcomers deserved respect around the world despite the heartbreaking setback.

Cape Verde pushed the defending champions to the brink in an unforgettable encounter

Many expected Argentina to advance to the next round after Messi opened the scoring with his record 20th World Cup goal. Instead, Cape Verde responded with incredible determination. Deroy Duarte equalized in the second half before Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s lead early in extra time.Just when it looked like the game was over, Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning long-range strike that left the fans in disbelief and leveled the game again. Argentina eventually secured the win after a Diney Borge own-goal corner kick, but Cape Verde continued to attack until the final whistle and almost forced penalties.The result sent Argentina through to the round of 16, but many viewers felt the score told only part of the story. Cape Verde, playing in their first World Cup knockout match, matched one of football’s greatest powers for more than 120 minutes with grit, discipline and confidence.

Fans praise Cape Verde and criticize Argentina after thrilling win

The fans praised goalkeeper Vozinha, who made several key saves against Messi and frustrated the defending champions all night.One fan wrote: “100% successful dribbling. Vozinha owns Argentina and Messi.” Another supporter backed Cape Verde’s quality, saying: “From what I’ve seen, this Cape Verde team can beat Portugal any day.”Several fans also pointed out how difficult it was for Argentina. One post read: “Argentina needed extra time and 2 corners to beat Cabo Verde.” Many fans believed that the result mattered less than Cape Verde’s performance. One fan wrote: “Argentina won the game but Cape Verde won our hearts.”Others used the match to criticize the reigning champions. One viral reaction said: “Super proud of them. They exposed the scam team.” Another emotional message highlighted how Cape Verde’s inspirational run changed global perceptions of the nation. A fan wrote: “The world is so proud of these Cape Verdean players and I’m sure more people around the world will know this country now. They really shook up the world of football and proved the doubters wrong. Even Messi won’t forget this particular match in his life.”Another supporter summed up the mood across social media by writing: “Vozinha and Cape Verde deserved a standing ovation tonight.” Argentina keep their World Cup dream alive, but Cape Verde leave the tournament with a tarnished reputation. The tournament debutants earned admiration across the footballing world after producing one of the biggest underdog performances at the 2026 World Cup, proving they belonged on the sport’s biggest stage.