Argentina v Cape Verde: Breaking down biggest World Cup knockout mismatch

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Argentina v Cape Verde: Breaking down biggest World Cup knockout mismatchImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will have to keep out Lionel Messi, perhaps the greatest player of all timeByDale Johnson Football issues correspondentPublished3 hours agoLionel Messi versus Vozinha. It is the World Cup battle no-one knew they wanted, but which fans now cannot wait to see. Argentina and Cape Verde walk out at the Miami Stadium on Friday (23:00 BST).

Arguably the greatest player the world has seen faces a 40-year-old goalkeeper who was a complete unknown three weeks ago. It encapsulates one of the best stories of this World Cup - Cape Verde, on their World Cup debut, defying the odds to reach the knockout rounds. No-one gave Cape Verde a prayer against European champions Spain.

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It was heralded as one of the greatest-ever World Cup shocks, and the African nation did not even win. Then came draws against two-time World Cup winners Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, to qualify for the last 32 in second place in the group. It could be the biggest mismatch the World Cup has ever seen.

Three-time World Cup winners v debutantsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Qatar 2022 was Argentina's third World Cup success, following on from 1978 and 1986One of the most-storied national teams - and the current world champions - face opponents who only first qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013. Cape Verde was a colony of Portugal when Argentina took part in the first World Cup in 1930, finishing runners-up to Uruguay. La Albiceleste have only failed to qualify for one World Cup, in Mexico in 1970, though withdrew from the three tournaments either side of World War Two.

Argentina's first World Cup success came in 1978, beating the Netherlands 3-1. In 1986, a 3-2 victory over West Germany took the trophy back to South America. A third World Cup trophy was secured in Qatar four years ago, with France beaten on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

What Experts Say

Argentina have enjoyed extensive continental success, too, winning the Copa America a record 16 times - including the past two tournaments. They have not been out of the top three of the Fifa world ranking since March 2022, and spent two years in the number one spot before being dethroned by France last year. The Cape Verdean Football Federation was only formed in 1982, and accepted as a Fifa member in 1986 - just as Argentina were winning the World Cup for a second time.

The Blue Sharks first entered World Cup qualifying in 2002 but did not have a realistic chance of qualifying until 2022. Four years ago they only just lost out to Nigeria, drawing the final group game 1-1 in Lagos when a win would have sent them to Qatar. For the 2026 finals, despite being drawn in a group with eight-time qualifiers Cameroon, Cape Verde finished top with one defeat in 10 matches.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.