The World Cup legend of tiny Cape Verde

The defending World Cup champion, Argentina, is a country of over 47 million. Its opponent on July 3? The West African island of Cape Verde, population of just over 500,000. Argentina's football (soccer) squad was ranked No. 1 coming into the World Cup while the Blue Sharks (the nickname for Cape Verde’s squad) were ranked 67th.         

The mighty Argentines, with the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi, were taking on the Cape Verde team featuring exactly zero players currently playing in the top football league, the Premier League.

It was David vs. Goliath in oh so many ways, but fans still tuned in just to catch a glimpse of this upstart, unknown team and see if maybe… just maybe… they could stay with the great Argentina team.

The answer? An emphatic yes!

The game became an instant classic, and although Argentina did win in the end, Cape Verde took them to the absolute limits and beyond, almost pulling off the football miracle.

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Most fans thought Cape Verde’s only chance was to pack it in defensively and hope for a 0-0 tie, then maybe go to penalty kicks to decide. This was their strategy when they played Spain (another football powerhouse) and shocked the world by tying them 0-0 in the round-robin stage of the games.

That strategy went kaput when Messi (who else?) scored a first-half goal. Many thought, at that point, with a one-goal lead, the match was over.

“Many” were wrong. In the first shock of this classic match-up, Cape Verde staggered Argentina with an equalizer right before the half ended. The equalizer brought crowds everywhere to their feet, cheering collectively for the Cinderella underdogs.

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The goal had the effect of an undersized, overmatched boxer sneaking in a surprise punch and stunning his larger, stronger heavyweight opponent.

But back came the world champions with a goal in extra time by Lisandro Martinez. Surely with this, the Argentines would finally get rid of their pesky underlings. But not so fast, said the club representing the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

In a complete stunner, Sidny LopesCabral drilled a spectacular shot from the left side into the upper right corner of the net. Unreachable for Argentina’s goalie. A perfectly placed shot against all odds.

Another equalizer for Cape Verde!

The Argentine players, coaches, their fans—and fans across the world viewing—were in shock. Cape Verde had tied it again and now stood on the threshold of one of the great sports upsets of all time.

But such was not to be. Not all underdog stories have happy endings. 

 Argentina came through with yet another goal and won the match 3-2.

But what a performance from Cape Verde—not just in this amazing match but in its entire run during the World Cup.

Cape Verde’s players captured the hearts of viewers everywhere and made their nation proud.

Cape Verde’s goalie, captain and leader, the 40-year-old Vozinha, was spectacular and symbolized the team’s unheralded story.  He plays in the second-tier league in Portugal, not among the big names or star-studded teams. Yet on the world stage? In the greatest of moments? Heshone amongst all the other top goalies, making some amazing saves.

It was a game, a match, that World Cup football fans will not easily forget. An instant classic wrought with tension, drama, and multiple surprises from unknown entities.

The Cape Verde team returned to their country as heroes. Heroes there, for sure, but also to many other fans who watched this unsung, unheralded team play their hearts out for two weeks straight.

They gave us all hope for the underdog—for the unthinkable to become legend.