Vozinha denied Messi as Argentina beat Cape Verde 2-1
DIRECT ANSWER: Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha repeatedly denied Lionel Messi during Argentina's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash in Miami, according to live coverage from L'Équipe. The Argentine side still won 2-1 after Messi scored in the 29th minute, Deroy Duarte equalized for Cape Verde in the 59th, and Lisandro Martínez struck in the 92nd minute.
Key Takeaways
- L'Équipe's live feed headlined Vozinha's resistance to Messi as the defining drama of Argentina vs Cape Verde.
- Eurosport listed the final score as 2-1 to Argentina, with goals from Messi, Duarte, and Lisandro Martínez.
- Foot Mercato tracked the last-16 tie live on 4 July as part of the Canada/Mexico/USA 2026 World Cup.
- All three outlets ran minute-by-minute hubs for viewers following the knockout fixture from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Who stopped Messi in Argentina's win over Cape Verde?
Vozinha was the name on every live update. L'Équipe's direct match page carried the headline that summed up the night: the Cape Verde goalkeeper said no to Messi. That framing matched what viewers saw as Argentina pressed for goals throughout the Round of 16 tie.
Eurosport's team sheets listed Vozinha in goal for Cape Verde and Messi at No. 10 for Argentina. As the scoreboard shifted, the goalkeeper remained the story — keeping Cape Verde competitive even after Messi had put the Albiceleste ahead.
How did Argentina vs Cape Verde finish at the World Cup?
Argentina did not cruise. Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, giving the South American side a lead at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Cape Verde answered through Deroy Duarte in the 59th minute, and the game sat level at 1-1 heading into the closing stages.
Lisandro Martínez then broke the deadlock in the 92nd minute, per Eurosport's live match page. The broadcaster's timeline showed the fixture extending deep into stoppage time before Argentina sealed a 2-1 win and a place in the next knockout round.
Where can fans follow Argentina World Cup live streams?
Three major live hubs covered the fixture. L'Équipe ran a dedicated match-direct page for the Coupe du monde tie. Eurosport published rolling live commentary for the World Cup 2026 last-16 meeting. Foot Mercato also hosted a live thread that followed the scoreline through the 16èmes de finale.
For broader viewing and broadcast alerts across knockout football, check our Streaming & TV Alerts category. The L'Équipe live hub remained the primary French-language source tracking Vozinha's battle with Messi.
Why did this Round of 16 tie draw so much attention?
Foot Mercato's live page showed the game still goalless early on, building tension before Messi's opener. That made every Vozinha save against Messi feel like a potential turning point as the last-16 tie unfolded in Miami.
Argentina, meanwhile, needed a result to stay alive in the knockout bracket. Messi's opener looked decisive, Duarte's reply reopened the contest, and Martínez's late strike settled it. For viewers tuning in across time zones, the live trackers turned a last-16 fixture into one of the night's must-watch World Cup stories.