Sleep-deprived fans in Kerala were treated to a chewing gum as Argentina went to the brink and back

Facundo Medina of Argentina heads the ball against Jamir Monteiro of Cape Verde during the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde at Miami Gardens on July 3. Photo credit: AP

Rayan Ismail, 15, pumped the air with a clenched fist as Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead against minnow favorites Cape Verde – a small African nation – in the 29th minute of a knockout match in Miami, away from the home of his idol, with a sublime finish to an equally majestic cross-field pass behind the defensive lines.

The die-hard Messi fan felt his prediction of a 2-0 win for the men in blue and white was on track as the first half ended with the Argentine superstar’s seventh goal of the campaign separating the sides. After all, Ryan’s predictions leading up to the match were spot on in a contest organized by his housing association. Expecting the game to end in regulation time and hoping to catch up on some much-needed sleep after waking up for Saturday’s 3:30 a.m. start, the youngster was in for a rude shock.

His heart skipped a beat when Cape Verde equalized in the 14th minute of the second half to send the game into extra time. When the Argentina bashers – most of them fans of other teams united by their desire to see Argentina go down – erupted in raucous euphoria, Rayan couldn’t take it anymore and left the screening dejected. In the process, he missed another turn as Cape Verde restored parity again as their number 13 Sidny Cabral produced a stunning curler that slid past the outstretched arms of the formidable Emi Martinez for one of the best goals – if not the best – of the tournament before eventually succumbing to the defending champions.

Rayan was not alone. Argentina fans across the country were treated to a chewing gum as Cape Verde wrote a golden chapter in World Cup history and bowed out all guns blazing. “Much respect to them. I remembered that nerve-wracking final in 2022 when we were 2-0 up only for the French to come back and stay in the game in regulation time thanks to a great save by Emi Martinez. If we had lost today, our opponents would have mocked us for the rest of our lives,” said Salih of the Malappuram collective, an Argentinian WhatsApp Malappura fan.

A terrible prediction

Rubin John, another ardent Messi supporter, feared for a moment that Ghanaian witch Nana Kwaku Bonsam’s prediction that Argentina would be shot down by Cape Verde might come true. However, he turned around after the final whistle and boasted that he always knew Messi and company would win in the end.

For Argentina fans, the match proved to be a real test. For all Messi’s magic, La Albiceleste remain vulnerable and a World Cup defense is hardly guaranteed.

And then there was the weather meme storm unleashed by rivals on social media once their side progressed to the next round.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 16:11 IST