Lionel Messi and Argentina have shown the resilience of champions throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, overcoming adversity on multiple occasions to book their place in the tournament final. While the defending champions have won every knockout match, two of those victories came after trailing during the game, highlighting their determination and ability to perform under pressure.
Argentina Have Recorded Two Comeback Wins at the 2026 World Cup
Heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain, Argentina have completed two comeback victories during their title defense.
The South American giants rallied from losing positions in both the Round of 16 and the semifinals, keeping their hopes of winning back-to-back World Cup titles alive.
Round of 16: Argentina 3-2 Egypt
Argentina’s first comeback came in a dramatic Round of 16 clash against Egypt.
After falling behind 2-0 in the second half, Lionel Scaloni’s side mounted one of the tournament’s most memorable turnarounds. Argentina scored three unanswered goals to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory and advance to the quarterfinals.
The comeback demonstrated the team’s attacking depth and mental toughness as they avoided a stunning upset.
Semifinal: Argentina 2-1 England
Argentina’s second comeback victory came in the semifinals against England.
England opened the scoring to take a 1-0 lead, putting the defending champions under pressure. However, Lionel Messi inspired another turnaround by providing two assists, helping Enzo Fernández equalize before Lautaro Martínez scored the decisive goal to seal a 2-1 victory.
The win sent Argentina into another FIFA World Cup final, where they will face Spain.
Why Argentina’s 3-2 Win Over Cape Verde Doesn’t Count as a Comeback
Argentina also defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, but that match is not officially considered a comeback victory.
Although the final score was close, Argentina never trailed during the contest. Instead, they built a lead before Cape Verde narrowed the deficit late in the match.
As a result, only the victories over Egypt and England qualify as comeback wins.
How Many Comeback Wins Does Argentina Have at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina have recorded two comeback victories during the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
- Round of 16: Argentina 3-2 Egypt (trailed 2-0)
- Semifinal: Argentina 2-1 England (trailed 1-0)
Those comeback performances have been instrumental in Argentina’s run to the World Cup final, with Messi once again playing a decisive role as the reigning champions chase another historic title.