Messi breaks records and leads the group stage

The start of the 2026 World Cup was a goal-fest for Lionel Messi, who debuted with a hat-trick and then scored a brace that placed him above Miroslav Klose's historic record in World Cups. Argentina closed the group stage with an ideal score after winning 3-1 in the third match, with goals from Lo Celso, Lautaro Martínez, and the captain himself. The first half left the impression that the Albiceleste was ready for greater challenges.

Epic comebacks in the round of 32 and the round of 16

The round of 16 match against Cape Verde was a warning of what was to come: a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes and a dramatic conclusion in extra time, where Lisandro Martínez and "Cuti" Romero sealed the definitive 3-2. In the round of 16 against Egypt, Argentina staged the most epic comeback of the tournament, they were down 0-2 with ten minutes to go, but Romero scored, Messi equalized, and Enzo Fernández sealed the dramatic 3-2 that went down in history.

Switzerland in the quarter-finals and England in the semi-finals

The semifinal against England was worthy of a movie, but before that, the Albiceleste had to overcome Switzerland in the quarterfinals. After a 1-1 draw in regular time (Mac Allister and Ndoye), Embolo's expulsion opened the way, and Julián Álvarez along with Lautaro Martínez sealed the 3-1 victory. In the semifinals, the English took the lead with a goal from Gordon, but Enzo Fernández equalized with a powerful shot in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez, in the 92nd minute, headed in a cross from Messi to seal the 2-1 victory. Argentina once again proved that they never give up and that their path to the final was marked by decisive goals, resilience, and the indelible mark of their captain.

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