Argentina walked the finest of lines in Miami Gardens, escaping with a 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde that veered perilously close to the biggest upset in World Cup history. For long stretches, the reigning champions looked less like the planet’s top-ranked side and more like a heavyweight staggering on the ropes.

The script appeared familiar early on. Lisandro Martínez, restored to the heart of defence after an injury-hit club season, stepped into midfield and clipped a raking pass over Diney Borges. Lionel Messi, reading it before anyone else, ghosted into the gap, killed the ball with one touch and swept it past Vozinha. It was his seventh goal of the tournament and his 20th in World Cup play, extending a record that may stand for generations.

But Cape Verde refused to play the role of grateful guests. Compact, disciplined and fearless in transition, they punished Argentina’s casualness. A simple two-pass move sliced through the Albiceleste midfield, Enzo Fernández switched off for a heartbeat, and Deroy Duarte arrived unmarked to level. The stadium, a sea of sky blue and white, fell into stunned silence.

Vozinha turned that silence into anxiety, producing eight saves as Argentina poured forward. When Martínez himself surged into the box to restore the lead early in extra time, it felt like order had finally been restored. Cape Verde had other ideas.

Full-back Sidny Cabral cut in from the left and unleashed a curling strike into the top corner, a goal of such audacity that even Argentina’s defenders could only watch it arc beyond Emiliano Martínez. At 2-2, the unthinkable loomed: the world champions on the brink of elimination to World Cup debutants ranked 67th in the world.

Argentina’s salvation came, fittingly, from a set piece and their captain’s left foot. Messi’s corner found Cristian Romero, whose header glanced off Borges and into the net. Even then, there was one final tremor: Cabral’s late free kick seemed destined for glory until Martínez flung himself across goal to claw it away.

Argentina advanced, but the night belonged in part to Cape Verde, whose organisation, courage and moments of brilliance pushed Messi and company to their absolute limit. For the champions, it was a stark warning. For Cape Verde, it was a statement that they belong on football’s biggest stage.