Read 3 minutesUpdated: 4 July 2026 12:47 PM IST
The difference between Cape Verde and the biggest upset in World Cup history whose own goals will be a difficult time for Dine Borges. He will feel that a stellar defensive performance in the group stage and in the Round of 32 against Argentina was also neutralized by a moment that can only be described as bad luck. In fact, Lionel Messi and Borges’ inch-perfect corner from ill-fated interference could have been a copybook goal, had it not been so brutal. If he hadn’t got his head – that was hand – to the ball, Cristian Romero’s nod might not have found the corner of the net, but it’s the defender’s job to block the attacker’s effort on goal. Romero’s clean, uncomplicated header would probably have had the same effect as the brave Wozinha in the Cape Verde goal.
The 111th-minute crash (from Cape Verde’s perspective) averted the biggest chapter in the early history of the tiny archipelago off the west coast of Africa, home to just 500,000 people. Ironically, Borges was a key player in the previous biggest moment for Cape Verdean football, holding European champions Spain to a goalless draw in their first game of the tournament, while committing just one foul throughout the match.
He may have entered the World Cup as an unknown like all his teammates, but the 31-year-old centre-back, whose full name is Edilson Alberto Montero Sanchez Borges, has built a strong professional career and is currently plying his trade with Al Bataeh in the UAE Pro League.
Born in Tarfal on Santiago Island in Cape Verde, Borges has done magic in Morocco and Portugal before arriving in the Gulf. He has been a part of the national team since 2017.
“One of the best things about this World Cup is that no one is asking where Cape Verde is on the map – for us it’s history. We’ve put ourselves on the map,” Borges’ centre-back partner Roberto Lopes told BBC Sport.
“We are a small nation but big at heart and we have shown what is possible – and if you believe, you can achieve.”
Coach Bubista was disappointed with the result, but proud.
“We showed that we may be a small country but we can play against the best teams in the world which is a source of pride. We made history for our country. They can be proud of representing our country. To play like we did against the world champions and draw twice is unbelievable,” he said after the heartbreak.