Defending champions Argentina needed a deflected Cristian Romero header in the 111th minute to edge a fearless Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the World Cup round of 32 in Miami. Lionel Messi had volleyed the Albiceleste ahead in the first half, but the Blue Sharks, the minnows of the tournament, struck back twice through Deroy Duarte’s second-half equaliser and Sidny Lopes Cabral’s curling strike in extra time, briefly stunning the overwhelmingly Argentine crowd. Lisandro Martínez had put Argentina back in front just before the turnaround, yet Cape Verde refused to yield, forcing another set-piece solution from a Messi corner that ricocheted off Diney Borges for the decisive own goal.

Viewed from Europe, the drama confirmed the capacity of the island nation of barely half a million people to trouble the elite. Cape Verde arrived at their debut World Cup having drawn all three group games against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to become the smallest country ever in the knockout phase. In the hours after defeat, fans in Praia celebrated into the early morning, with supporters telling international agencies the team had “held our own against the world champions”. Spanish dailies framed the contest as an ordeal: Marca titled its report “Argentina, de puro milagro”, while Italian commentators spoke of a fright and French analysts noted the holders “only know how to win suffering”.

Messi, who took his tournament tally to seven goals and his all-time World Cup count to twenty, bore the scars literally and figuratively. A heavy second-half collision left him with a visible bruise on the right side of his forehead, and he required ice treatment before extra time. Afterwards, a queue of Cape Verde players waited in the mixed zone for photographs and his shirt, a scene his blunt quip captured: “They asked for my jersey, everything… On the field, they kick the crap out of me.” The captain also offered a sober assessment, admitting Argentina “lost the ball, we sat back, we couldn’t press effectively” and that there were “many” areas to correct.

Scaloni’s side now face Egypt in the last 16, a fixture that promises little respite given the North Africans’ own resolve in eliminating Australia on penalties. The escape in Miami underscored both Argentina’s enduring reliance on Messi at set-pieces and open play, and the defensive and midfield frailties that nearly undid them against opponents who had been given a one per cent chance by some forecasters. Cape Verde, through their stubbornness and forays forward, exposed the champions’ habit of surrendering initiative once ahead, a vulnerability Scaloni acknowledged will demand urgent attention before the tie in Atlanta.