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On Friday, Argentina was looking to continue its quest for back-to-back world titles, and to do so, it had to overcome one of the favorites of this year's tournament: Cape Verde.
The small island nation off the coast of West Africa came into the match as the 64th ranked team in the world, and they managed to hold Argentina (the number 2 team behind France at the moment) scoreless for almost thirty minutes.
But in the 29th minute, Lionel Messi scored to give Argentina the lead.
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That was his 20th career World Cup goal and also made him the first player to score seven or more goals in multiple World Cups, having also done so in Qatar.
It was also Messi's eighth consecutive World Cup game with a goal.
Argentina's Lionel Messi scored in his eighth consecutive World Cup game and scored his 20th career World Cup goal. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images))
Well, normally when Argentina takes the lead, they don't waste it, but early in the second half, Cape Verde's Deroy Duarte scored a great goal and tied the game 1-1.
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While there was some late pressure from Argentina, that included an always dangerous Messi free kick from outside the box that Cape Verde managed to stop.
And with that, it went to overtime.
Cape Verde celebrates after scoring one of its two tying goals against Argentina. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
However, it only took Cape Verde a few moments to once again find themselves fighting from behind.
Lisandro Martínez found the net in the 92nd minute to give Argentina the lead.
It seemed like that would be all I would write… but Cape Verde had other plans.
They were left with the defending World Cup champions and in the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral scored an incredible goal to tie the game again.
Coming into this match, Argentina had conceded just two goals in their ten-game World Cup winning streak.
Cape Verde did it in a match.
Argentine Cristian Romero concentrates on what turned out to be the winning goal. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
But in the 111th minute, Messi took advantage of an Argentina corner kick and put it in the perfect place for Cristian Romero to head a header to the far post and into the back of the net.
This was eventually upgraded to an own goal, as it came off the Cape Verde defender's arm, but it counts the same on the scoreboard.
Despite a series of late chances, Argentina held on to avoid what potentially would have been the biggest upset in World Cup history.
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What a game and what a streak Cape Verde has had in the tournament.
Argentina will now have to compose itself and prepare for a tough round of 16 match against Egypt, which will be played on Tuesday in Atlanta.
