It was a dramatic Tuesday in Atlanta. Down 2-0 to Egypt in the 79th minute, Argentina’s World Cup hopes seemed to evaporate. Yet, within fifteen minutes, Lionel Messi delivered a pinpoint cross to Cristian Romero, who equalized in the 83rd minute. Enzo Fernández sealed the comeback in stoppage time, sending Messi into a flood of tears. The Albiceleste had overturned an impossible deficit.

“Few teams manage to engineer such a dramatic turnaround—especially with a missed penalty, missed chances, and a standout performance from the Egyptian goalkeeper,” reflects former international Jérôme Rothen. This victory came just three days after Argentina survived a scare against Cape Verde. Twice pegged back, the champions rode their luck in extra time, battling fatigue and cramps to edge past the 64th-ranked FIFA side 3-2.

Despite being stretched in every match, Argentina remains undefeated in 2026. Their ability to flip games in the dying moments speaks volumes about their character. “This group has personality and grit. That’s their secret weapon,” notes Rothen. Franck Leboeuf, 1998 World Cup winner, agrees. “The unity within this team is remarkable. It’s a quality that could decide any match.”

The soul of Argentine football: ‘Garra’ and resilience

The term *garra*—meaning tenacity to the point of suffering—has become the heartbeat of Argentina’s national team. Supporters and media alike have embraced this ethos, reinforcing it after every narrow escape. Local sports daily *Olé* captured the sentiment perfectly: “Resilience isn’t bought at the pharmacy or ordered online. It’s forged in fire. Argentina doesn’t just play matches—it endures them. It suffers, fights, and never surrenders.”

Souleymane Diawara, former Senegalese defender and analyst, offers a measured perspective. “A team chasing back-to-back titles can’t afford to tremble against sides like Cape Verde or Egypt. Argentina remains vulnerable and hasn’t yet faced a true football powerhouse,” he cautions. As for Switzerland in the quarterfinals—or potential semifinal opponents England and Norway—Diawara and former French international Éric Di Meco agree: the Albiceleste’s path is wide open to the final. “Their system works. They have no reason to change it,” Di Meco remarks. Argentina already shares the record for most World Cup matches decided in extra time (12), having won ten of those.

Stronger than in 2022?

Argentina’s 2022 triumph in Qatar was built on razor-thin margins. While they dismantled Croatia 3-0 in the semifinals, their earlier victories were anything but smooth—a 2-1 extra-time win over Australia, followed by penalty shootout triumphs over the Netherlands and France. With Angel Di Maria retired, the core of the 2022 squad remains intact in 2026. “From the start, it felt like this team could go all the way again,” says Leboeuf. Rothen and Di Meco believe the Albiceleste are even more formidable than four years ago.

Their edge stems from shared experience and the form of their leaders. “Messi is playing at a higher level than in the last World Cup,” notes Di Meco. Argentina has scored twice in every match this tournament, largely thanks to the 39-year-old’s eight goals. Yet Diawara warns: “Messi can’t save Argentina forever. When he’s neutralized, the team will struggle.” Still, a nation dreams of a second straight World Cup crown.