Lionel Messi & the defining moments of FIFA World Cup Football 2026.
World Cup Football 2026, with the new format of 48 teams, has turned out to be a huge success for many low-ranking teams who could showcase their talents. Amongst all teams and their players, the one who keeps on raising his bar is none other than the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi.
This Argentina side might be the most resilient international team we’ve ever seen.
Lionel Messi has won the hearts of millions of fans across all ages and all genders. At this age and phase of his great career continues to mesmerise all his followers. What we all saw a 100-year-old lady watching him play all the World Cups where Messi has played, who was gifted the number 10 jersey by him. A great gesture indeed.
The teams from the African Continent and Latin America surprised many, and they moved to the knockout stage. The teams worth mentioning were Morocco, Egypt, Cabo Verde, Senegal, Algeria and Mexico, Colombia, Paraguay, and Ecuador.
There have been many defining moments in this World Cup, but few of them have really defined the greatest turnaround, thereby sealing the game with the team effort driven by individual brilliance.
We all have witnessed some great games in the group stages with turnarounds and unexpected results. Till the 3rd place and finals, we have witnessed some fascinating football in all the 102 games.
The best, we all will agree, were these games between Spain vs Cabo Verde, Austria vs Algeria, and Netherlands vs Japan in the league stages, and in the knockout stages we shortlist the best 10 based on the turnarounds, display of team game, excellent coordination and the players who have risen above the threshold for bringing glory for their Nation.
In the knockout stage, the games which are being termed as the most competitive were:
Argentina vs Egypt
Argentina looked all but out after goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko, who also had one disallowed by a VAR intervention that will remain a talking point for years to come, had given Egypt a thoroughly deserved 2-0 lead with 15 minutes of the 90 to go. But a determined Lionel Messi kept the reigning champions alive, assisting Cristian Romero and then scoring with a half-volley to equalise.
This was a thriller, an all-time World Cup classic that featured some all-time performances. But all that will be overshadowed by the chaos that ensued before and after the full-time whistle, with Egypt left aggrieved by not just the major decisions but also numerous 50-50s that seemed to go Argentina’s way.
Argentina vs Cape Verde
Argentina capped off a decent first half with Lionel Messi’s brilliantly taken goal from a perfect Lisandro Martinez ball over the top. But it did not look routine, and you wondered whether Cape Verde could get an odd chance to break their way. It came in the 59th minute through Deroy Duarte’s excellent finish.
That woke up the world champions, but this time it was Vozinha’s turn to deliver, with two brilliant saves and then a third to deny Messi. Disciplined defending, led by Pico Lopes, forced extra time — an incredible achievement.
A set piece proved their undoing, with Martinez putting Argentina ahead, but Cape Verde’s resilience, as throughout the tournament, came to the fore again. Sidny Lopes Cabral’s delightful curling strike was one of the great World Cup moments and the image of him in the crowd right after was poignant.
Argentina vs England
Argentina dragged England into a physical contest in the first half where chances were at a premium. The intensity they put into every tackle, duel and even passes seemed to hint that they could run out of steam, especially after Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute.
That somehow seemed to deflate England and galvanise the 2022 champions, who laid a siege on the England box. Alexis Mac Allister struck the post, Nicolas Gonzalez saw a header flash across goal, and England defended with nine players in the box.
Enzo Fernandez then forced a save from Jordan Pickford, a warning sign of the space England were leaving, and promptly equalised from a similar long-distance strike in the 85th minute. The siege continued. Mac Allister hit the post again, and Lionel Messi conjured up yet another moment of genius, evading two defenders and sending over a weak-footed cross to set up Lautaro Martinez’s headed winner.
This was tense, engaging, high-stakes football at its best. England’s retreat cost them, opening the door for yet another seemingly unlikely but certainly inevitable Argentina comeback.
Argentina vs Switzerland
Like many of the other quarter-finals, this was an entertaining affair which was played on a knife’s edge.
Belgium vs Senegal
In this World Cup, I myself watched two great games featuring two African teams, Egypt and Senegal, competing with the European top team Belgium. Both games will remain among the best games where Belgium made a comeback. Mo Salah and Sadio Mane displayed their skills & character, leading the fight into the opposition's camp.
Belgium vs Senegal was one of the first epic games in the knockout stage. Senegal were cruising, courtesy of goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr. Belgium looked limited and frustrated, with Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans heading into the second half.
Romelu Lukaku gave Belgium hope in the 86th minute. A penalty shootout seemed a certainty before Lamine Camara was deemed to have brought down Tielemans in the box after a seven-minute VAR check. The Aston Villa midfielder thumped home a winner from the penalty spot in the 125th minute.
England vs Mexico
The build-up to this one was almost a spectacle of its own. Mexico had more of the ball in the first 35 minutes, but both teams recorded just one shot on target, with Jordan Pickford forced into the more difficult save. Jude Bellingham then struck twice in two minutes to put England on the front foot, before Julian Quinones halved the deficit. The end of the first half was a sign of things to come, with England forced to survive several Mexico attacks.
Jarell Quansah’s 54th-minute red card brought the home Azteca crowd to a fever pitch again, but Harry Kane’s penalty restored England’s two-goal lead. However, Kane then conceded a penalty at the other end which Raul Jimenez converted, bringing Mexico right back into things in the 69th minute.
From that point, it was a rearguard display for the ages, epitomised by substitute Dan Burn heading away absolutely everything on his World Cup debut. Underdog football at its finest — from one of the favourites.
Portugal vs Croatia
The game was highly competitive, with Modric also playing one of the best games of his career.
Germany vs Paraguay
Germany shockingly couldn't reach the round of 16, with Paraguay defeating them in a tiebreaker. The game saw some excellent defending and counterattacks by Paraguay.
Paraguay’s first-half performance was a backs-to-the-wall classic. They dug deep defensively against a German side intent on creating chances through the middle, barely even making it into their final third, before a moment of magic led to Julio Enciso scoring. Tah missed Germany’s first sudden-death effort before player of the match Jose Canale fittingly sent Paraguay through, inflicting Germany’s first penalty shootout defeat at the World Cup.
Netherlands vs Morocco
Netherlands were tipped to reach the round of 16, if not the quarter-finals. It was a spirited fightback by Morocco, who staged a comeback after a late equaliser following Gakpo's strike for a one-goal lead. Morocco dominated large stretches of this contest, with Bart Verbruggen forced into great saves, while for sheer intensity and physicality it was at the level of a semi-final.
Cody Gakpo’s goal came against the run of play and will be remembered long after this tournament for the grief and joy it simultaneously generated, following the death of his unborn son days before the game.
Morocco equalised in the 91st minute, before Verbruggen joined the list of goalkeepers with a contender for save of the tournament with a brilliant extra-time stop to deny Soufiane Rahimi. Netherlands never could recover and lost the game on a tie-breaker.
Spain vs France
This was always going to be one of the World Cup’s most tactically interesting games. Spain’s efficiency and work without the ball have gone under the radar, while France’s free-flowing attack brimming with high-end quality has meant weaknesses — namely a midfield lacking athleticism and tempo-setters along with full-backs who can struggle one-vs-one — had gone unnoticed.
France’s midfield was smothered, outpassed and outclassed by Rodri, Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo. Pedro Porro’s second-half goal from a team move sealed one of the more comprehensive World Cup semi-final victories you are likely to see.
Lionel Messi - The difference between the teams and Argentina.
All Argentina's games had one common name emerging each time to pave the way to victory, and it was the number 10 genius, Lionel Messi.
From scoring a hat trick in the first game to swinging the game in favour of Argentina within a span of 7 minutes with two breathtaking assists speaks to his greatness. The game against England in the semi-finals was tipped for England’s victory, when suddenly the strategic blemishes by the England coach paved the passage for Argentina to sharpen their attacks and finish the game in their favour.
The same story was earlier repeated against Switzerland when, in the dying minutes of the game, Messi magic prevailed and gave the much-needed thrust to make it 3-1 from a situation where the match was heading towards the penalty shootout.
Argentina vs Egypt was a fairy tale with twists and turns. The game was poised for Egypt’s victory when everything changed, and Lionel Messi’s gameplay made things difficult. Trailing by 2-0, a great assist by Messi in the 79th minute and again a goal by himself in the 83rd minute changed the game for a 3-2 victory.
The new entrant Cabo Verde, who have stunned many in this World Cup with their fabulous display of football, holding Spain and Saudi Arabia to a draw, getting the golden chance to play in the round of 32 and fighting it out with the World number one Argentina, is nothing less than a miracle. Lionel Messi scored the first goal, equalised by Cabo Verde twice, and in extra time, Messi's corner forced an own goal, scripting a great game of football.
Vozinho continued his excellent form as an outstanding goalkeeper in the tournament, making brilliant saves against Argentina, as he had performed against Spain.
We have now reached the last stage of the tournament, with the game for 3rd place and the final to be played. Will it be Argentina or Spain? The battle between Lionel Messi and Yamal is what the whole Football world is eagerly waiting for. The two questions encircling every football lover's mind are:
Will Messi lift the trophy once again for his Country?
Will Messi be the Golden Boot winner? Currently, he sits at the top with 8 goals and 4 assists in this World Cup.
Thank you. The world game is on fire with all superstars, genius coaches and young to-be greats performing for us to see what’s possible. VAR has made the game a bit of a “watch before you celebrate” sort of thing , but fair (or too fair) for sure. Thanks Subhajit. Loved the recap.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your appreciation and comments.
DeleteVery well made summary of the 48 team 104 world cup 2026. Brings out very well that the torch bearer is, whether he wins it or not, is Lionel Messi. Some stars fell in the way , some new have found a feet- the greatest show of soccer on earth will go on.
ReplyDeleteVery well articulated and apt comments. Thanks for the reading and posting your views.
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