Messi's Final Masterpiece? Argentina's Unusual Journey to the World Cup Semifinals
Argentina. The defending world champion. No. 1 in the FIFA World Rankings. Once again among the final four. A surprise? Not in itself—but the path they have taken certainly is.
From the group stage to the semifinals, Argentina's campaign has been surrounded by controversy. Critics questioned the appointment of an Argentine referee for France's match against Morocco, while others claimed the Round of 16 victory over Egypt was influenced by controversial late decisions.
Yet Argentina keeps moving forward. The performances have not always been convincing, but they have been relentless. The reigning champions have won all six matches, scored 17 goals and remain on course to defend the title they won four years ago. What makes this run remarkable is that it has unfolded in a way never before seen in the tournament's 96-year history.
Two parallel stories define Argentina's World Cup so far: Lionel Messi's enduring brilliance and the fact that, through six matches, they have yet to face a single team ranked among the world's elite. That raises an obvious question—how much can really be learned from Argentina's performances before the decisive rounds?
The group stage was almost effortless. Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0, Austria 2-0 and Jordan 3-1, finishing with nine points and an 8-1 goal difference. It looked exactly like the campaign expected from a defending champion.
Messi stole the headlines immediately, scoring a hat trick against Algeria before adding two more goals against Austria. After two matches, all five of Argentina's goals had come from their captain. FIFA's technical analysis highlighted how Argentina's movement, midfield rotations and wing play are all designed either to free Messi in dangerous areas or exploit the space created when defenders focus on stopping him.
Unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, whose role within Portugal has naturally evolved with age, Messi remains the focal point of Argentina's attack. His workload without the ball may be carefully managed, but in decisive moments he is still the team's most influential player.
The knockout stage has been far less comfortable. Cape Verde pushed Argentina all the way in the newly introduced Round of 32 before the favorites finally prevailed 3-2 after extra time. It was the first clear indication that even Argentina's defense could be vulnerable under sustained pressure.
The Round of 16 against Egypt proved even more dramatic. Argentina trailed 2-0 before producing an incredible comeback to win 3-2 with three goals in the final 11 minutes. Messi scored once and assisted Cristian Romero's goal. Rather than technical perfection, the victory showcased resilience and belief.
The quarterfinal against Switzerland followed a similar pattern. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring from a Messi corner before Dan Ndoye equalized. After Breel Embolo's red card left Switzerland with ten men, Julián Álvarez restored Argentina's lead with a spectacular strike in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez sealed a 3-1 victory. Messi's five-match scoring streak ended, but his influence remained obvious through another assist.
Historically, Argentina's route has been unusually favorable. They became the first World Cup semifinalist ever to reach the last four without facing a single team ranked inside FIFA's top 15 before the tournament. Austria ranked 24th, Algeria 28th, Egypt 29th, while Switzerland also sat outside the top 15. Cape Verde and Jordan were even lower.
That sets Argentina apart from the other semifinalists. France had to overcome Morocco, Spain eliminated Portugal and Belgium, while England faced Croatia from the opening match onward. Argentina's first genuine test now comes against England in the semifinals.
The tournament has shown that Argentina can dominate weaker opponents and survive difficult situations. Now they must prove they can do the same against one of the world's strongest teams. One thing is certain: Messi did not travel to North America simply to enjoy a farewell tour. He came to win.
Messi has now scored eight goals and provided two assists in six matches—numbers that are extraordinary for a 39-year-old. His main rival for the Golden Boot remains Kylian Mbappé, who also has eight goals entering the semifinals.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni recently described his captain as 'a machine.' Messi no longer relies on constant movement. Instead, he chooses the right moments, conserves energy intelligently and strikes precisely when opponents lose concentration. Saving energy alone does not produce eight World Cup goals—his quality remains exceptional.
In hindsight, Messi's move from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami in 2023 looks increasingly inspired. Major League Soccer may not match Europe's top leagues in intensity, but it has allowed him to remain competitive while reducing the physical demands of a full European season. Living in the United States years before the tournament also meant adapting to travel, climate and time zones.
It is important to note that Messi has never publicly stated his move to Miami was part of a long-term World Cup plan. That remains speculation. Even so, what once appeared to be a gentle step toward the final years of his career has instead left him arriving at the World Cup looking every bit like the best footballer in the world.
Football fans can watch the World Cup semifinals and final together at Dubliner Pub during Vivatbet Football Nights. Alongside the matches and atmosphere, visitors can win prizes and spin the prize wheel. Fans can also visit the Vivatbet Sportsbook platform for some of Estonia's best odds and bonuses.
