{"id":920808,"date":"2026-07-18T18:13:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T23:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/18\/lionel-messi-argentinas-incredible-road-to-2026-world-cup-final-mlssoccer-com\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T18:13:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T23:13:25","slug":"lionel-messi-argentinas-incredible-road-to-2026-world-cup-final-mlssoccer-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/18\/lionel-messi-argentinas-incredible-road-to-2026-world-cup-final-mlssoccer-com\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi &#038; Argentina&#8217;s incredible road to 2026 World Cup final | MLSSoccer.com"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>What a ride it\u2019s been for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/lionel-messi\/\">Lionel Messi<\/a> and Argentina at the 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/\">FIFA World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The defending champions have delivered one epic performance after another to reach Sunday\u2019s final against Spain (3 pm ET | FOX, Telemundo, Peacock), bringing the soccer-obsessed nation within a win of crowning one of the most memorable World Cup campaigns ever with back-to-back titles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how Messi &#038; Co. overcame every obstacle thrown their way this summer to find themselves on the cusp of World Cup immortality.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Last two standing. \ud83c\udfc6 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cJaDRpAtVs\">pic.twitter.com\/cJaDRpAtVs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MLS\/status\/2077505921287090643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Lights-out Group Stage<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>Argentina came flying out of the gates, easily topping Group J with three wins in three games and a +7 goal difference behind Messi\u2019s masterful form.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/inter-miami-cf\/\">Inter Miami CF<\/a> superstar No. 10, who entered his joint-record sixth World Cup with an MLS-best 20 goal contributions (12g\/8), kept the goals coming for La Albiceleste, including a first-ever World Cup hat trick in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/matches\/argvsalg-06-16-2026\/\">3-0 opening win<\/a> over Algeria.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Messi followed it up with a brace in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/matches\/argvsaut-06-22-2026\/\">2-0 victory<\/a> over Austria before capping a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/matches\/jorvsarg-06-27-2026\/\">3-1 defeat<\/a> of Jordan with a late goal, in the process becoming the World Cup\u2019s all-time leading scorer, among other records.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                <iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lOEy382GeVU?feature=oembed\" allowfullscreen title=\"Lionel Messi Scores First Career HAT TRICK in FIFA World Cup\u2122 \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7 Ties Most Goals at Men's World Cup\u2122\"><\/iframe>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Cape Verde scare<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>After a stress-free Group Stage, Messi &#038; Co. got their first true test of adversity in the Round of 32 against Cape Verde. They passed by the skin of their teeth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The World Cup debutants, featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/columbus-crew\/\">Columbus Crew<\/a> defender <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/steven-moreira\/\">Steven Moreira<\/a>, took the champions to the absolute limit, rallying twice in an epic extra-time battle that finally went Argentina\u2019s way, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/matches\/argvscpv-07-03-2026\/\">3-2<\/a>, thanks to an 111th-minute own goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis World Cup especially, everything is very even,\u201d Messi told reporters after the hard-fought result at Miami Stadium. \u201cEvery game is going to be extremely difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                <iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EC2jOKluGRI?feature=oembed\" allowfullscreen title=\"Argentina vs Cape Verde Highlights \ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udfc6 2026 FIFA World Cup\u2122 | Round of 32\"><\/iframe>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Epic Egypt comeback<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>Egypt made things markedly more difficult for Argentina in the Round of 16, jumping to a 2-0 lead at Atlanta Stadium to put the champs on the brink of elimination.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But Messi would not be denied, taking control in the 79th minute by assisting on Cristian Romero\u2019s header before scoring the equalizer four minutes later.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With momentum on La Albiceleste\u2019s side, Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez completed the epic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/matches\/argvsegy-07-07-2026\/\">2-1 comeback<\/a> with the 92nd-minute game-winner.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                <iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XO3x8vm0Ijc?feature=oembed\" allowfullscreen title=\"Argentina vs Egypt Highlights \ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udfc6 2026 FIFA World Cup\u2122 | Round of 16\"><\/iframe>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Swiss battle\u00a0<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>Argentina delivered more drama in the quarterfinals, needing extra time once again to advance past Switzerland, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/matches\/argvssui-07-11-2026\/\">3-1<\/a>, at Kansas City Stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Messi linked up with Alexis Mac Allister for an early goal, but the Rossocrociati hung tough and found a surprise equalizer via Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute. Following Breel Embolo\u2019s second yellow card infraction five minutes later, the Swiss bunkered down defensively and began playing with a penalty-kick shootout in mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>They almost got their wish, but Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez had other plans, scoring a stunning 112th-minute golazo. Lautaro Mart\u00ednez tacked on an insurance tally as Argentina avoided PKs and kept their World Cup dreams alive.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                <iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FGhW41kIpgQ?feature=oembed\" allowfullscreen title=\"Argentina vs Switzerland Highlights \ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udfc6 2026 FIFA World Cup\u2122 | Quarterfinals\"><\/iframe>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>All-time classic vs. England<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>Messi\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/news\/lionel-messi-eyes-world-cup-glory-in-first-ever-matchup-vs-england\">first taste<\/a> of the Argentina-England rivalry delivered as expected, as the back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP inspired his country to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/matches\/engvsarg-07-15-2026\/\">2-1 semifinal win<\/a> for the ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This time, La Albiceleste were five minutes away from elimination, trailing the Three Lions 1-0 on Anthony Gordon\u2019s 55th-minute opener.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But Messi found a way once again, assisting on Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez\u2019s 85th-minute equalizer before lifting a perfect cross at the far post for Lautaro Mart\u00ednez to head home the dramatic game-winner in the 92nd minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe thought [what happened] against Egypt was the best thing ever. We\u2019d never seen anything like that before,\u201d head coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters.\u00a0\u201cI think this surpassed it. Beyond the quality of the opponent, it\u2019s a semifinal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd the way it happened, I don\u2019t know if this has happened before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                <iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y-4saPWrPt0?feature=oembed\" allowfullscreen title=\"England vs Argentina Highlights \ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udfc6 2026 FIFA World Cup\u2122 | Semifinals\"><\/iframe>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/news\/lionel-messi-argentina-s-incredible-road-to-2026-world-cup-final\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Lyndia Kazmierczak<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer What a ride it\u2019s been for Lionel Messi and Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The defending champions have delivered one epic performance after another to reach Sunday\u2019s final against Spain (3 pm ET | FOX, Telemundo, Peacock), bringing the soccer-obsessed nation within a win of crowning one of the most memorable World [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":920809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22672,22673,2005],"tags":[82301,42860],"class_list":["post-920808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lionel","category-messi","category-soccer","tag-lionel","tag-messi"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/920808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=920808"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/920808\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/920809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=920808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=920808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=920808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}