- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,212,534
- Reaction score
- 59
Argentina's2026 World Cup run has been defined by jaw-dropping, late-game heroics. On Wednesday, July 15, the defending champions doubled down.
Argentina escaped at the death once again, scoring a pair of late goals to beat England 2-1 and advance to the World Cup final against Spain.
Unfortunately for England, who struck first in the 55th minute, Lionel Messi and his teammates have shown a flair for the dramatic throughout the tournament.
In the round of 32, Argentina conceded two equalizers before netting the extra-time winner on a Cape Verde own goal. In the round of 16, Argentina orchestrated an unbelievable comeback from two goals down to beat Egypt. And in the quarterfinals against Switzerland, Argentina scored twice in extra time to clinch the win. Then came the semifinal rally against England.
Just how clutch is La Albiceleste? Of Argentina's 19 goals this World Cup, 10 were scored in the 80th minute or later, including seven in the 90th minute or later. Both are the most in any World Cup tournament from 1930-2022, according to a USA TODAY analysis.
West Germany in 1970 held the previous record with seven goals scored in the 80th minute or beyond; 1970 West Germany and 2018 Croatia both scored four goals scored in the 90th minute or beyond.
Leading the Golden Boot race in his final World Cup, Messi has scored three of his eight goals in the 80th minute or later. Perhaps for his next act, he should look into a career as an escape artist.
The only game that Argentina did not score after the 80th minute was its June 16 World Cup opener against Algeria, when Messi netted a hat trick in the game's 76th minute.
Here are all of the goals Argentina has scored in the 80th minute or later at the 2026 World Cup:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Argentina at the death: Messi's team's clutch comebacks by the minute
Continue reading...
Argentina escaped at the death once again, scoring a pair of late goals to beat England 2-1 and advance to the World Cup final against Spain.
Unfortunately for England, who struck first in the 55th minute, Lionel Messi and his teammates have shown a flair for the dramatic throughout the tournament.
In the round of 32, Argentina conceded two equalizers before netting the extra-time winner on a Cape Verde own goal. In the round of 16, Argentina orchestrated an unbelievable comeback from two goals down to beat Egypt. And in the quarterfinals against Switzerland, Argentina scored twice in extra time to clinch the win. Then came the semifinal rally against England.
10 Argentina goals have come after 80th minute
Just how clutch is La Albiceleste? Of Argentina's 19 goals this World Cup, 10 were scored in the 80th minute or later, including seven in the 90th minute or later. Both are the most in any World Cup tournament from 1930-2022, according to a USA TODAY analysis.
West Germany in 1970 held the previous record with seven goals scored in the 80th minute or beyond; 1970 West Germany and 2018 Croatia both scored four goals scored in the 90th minute or beyond.
Leading the Golden Boot race in his final World Cup, Messi has scored three of his eight goals in the 80th minute or later. Perhaps for his next act, he should look into a career as an escape artist.
The only game that Argentina did not score after the 80th minute was its June 16 World Cup opener against Algeria, when Messi netted a hat trick in the game's 76th minute.
Argentina's late goals in 2026 World Cup
Here are all of the goals Argentina has scored in the 80th minute or later at the 2026 World Cup:
- June 22 vs. Austria – 90+5’ Messi
- June 27 vs. Jordan – 80’ Messi
- July 3 vs. Cape Verde – 92’ Lisandro Martinez, 111’ Diney Borges (Cape Verde own goal)
- July 7 vs. Egypt – 83’ Messi, 90+2’ Enzo Fernandez
- July 11 vs. Switzerland – 112’ Julian Alvarez, 120+1’ Lautaro Martínez
- July 15 vs. England – 85’ Enzo Fernandez, 90+2’ Lautaro Martinez
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Argentina at the death: Messi's team's clutch comebacks by the minute
Continue reading...
