Before kick-off: define the sample first

OutcomematchesShare
Argentina wins0
Draws0
Cabo Verde wins0

FactUsing the explicit scope of completed 2026 World Cup matches before kick-off, the teams had met 0 times: 0 Argentina wins, 0 draws and 0 Cabo Verde wins. This is not presented as an all-time record.

FactThe comparison direction on this page is fixed: Argentina is the recorded home side, Cabo Verde the away side, and 3–2 is stored in that order. A later meeting would remain a separate event record.

Personnel: how the starting XI changed

FactArgentina changed 9 starters from its previous match; Cabo Verde changed 5 starters. Continuity is calculated from confirmed starters only.

FactArgentina's new starters include Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina, Rodrigo De Paul; Cabo Verde's new starters include Steven Moreira, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Laros Duarte, Jovane Cabral, Nuno Da Costa. The names connect the continuity count to specific personnel.

The result: 3–2 and the decisive sequence

29′
Lionel Messi changes the score1–0; assisted by Lisandro Martínez
59′
Deroy Duarte changes the score1–1; assisted by Ryan Mendes
92′
Lisandro Martínez changes the score2–1; assisted by Alexis Mac Allister
103′
Sidny Lopes Cabral changes the score2–2; assisted by Yannick Semedo
111′
Diney Borges changes the score3–2

FactThe final score was Argentina 3–2 Cabo Verde. The verified scoring sequence was 29′ Lionel Messi、59′ Deroy Duarte、92′ Lisandro Martínez、103′ Sidny Lopes Cabral、111′ Diney Borges. Score, sequence and line-up changes are facts; the mechanism inferred from them is labelled as analysis.

FactThe verification index for Argentina versus Cabo Verde fixes four fields: the 3–2 final score, the 2026 FIFA World Cup · Round of 32 stage, the Hard Rock Stadium location and 5 scoring events. Together they identify this match without borrowing context from another fixture.

FactNode 1: Lionel Messi scored for Argentina in minute 29, setting the ledger at 1–0; Node 2: Deroy Duarte scored for Cabo Verde in minute 59, setting the ledger at 1–1; Node 3: Lisandro Martínez scored for Argentina in minute 92, setting the ledger at 2–1; Node 4: Sidny Lopes Cabral scored for Cabo Verde in minute 103, setting the ledger at 2–2; Node 5: Diney Borges scored for Argentina in minute 111, setting the ledger at 3–2

FactArgentina's location key for this match is Hard Rock Stadium, shared by Cabo Verde; Argentina's 3 goals and Cabo Verde's 2 goals belong only to this venue and kick-off record.

Why this result made sense

AnalysisArgentina versus Cabo Verde, 3–2: Argentina converted the lead against Cabo Verde into the 3-2 result. Aggregated player data shows a shot gap of 6 and a pass-completion gap of 5.7 percentage points; game-state management mattered more than any single possession number.

Evidence confidence92%