No one hugged Lautaro Martinez when he raced towards the corner flag to celebrate the 92nd-minute winner against England.
Where did Argentina disappear?
Instead they surrounded the man providing the cross. Lionel Messi. Their captain. their compass. Their god among mortals.
After the full-time whistle the players turned to the same figure again, this time carrying Messi on their shoulders as the stadium chanted: “Que de la mano, de Lion Messi, todos la vuelta vamos a der.” (“Hand in hand with Leo Messi, we will all celebrate victory.”)
The dressing room echoed this sentiment. “Por la ultima de Leo, Argentina, quiero verte bicampeón.” (For Leo’s last game, Argentina, I want to see you become a two-time champion)
The instrumentalists reinforced the chanting in words.
Alexis McAllister wants to be a world champion again — not for his own pleasure, but for Messi’s. “The most important thing is for Leo to be happy.”
Argentina’s Alexis McAllister (20) celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi (10) after scoring his team’s opening goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Argentina and Switzerland, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Kansas City, Md. (AP Photo/Ed Jurga)
Lisandro Martinez is overwhelmed not by the prospect of a second world title but by sharing the dressing room with him. “I feel very emotional that he is with us day by day, and in fact he is from Argentina. There are no words to explain this feeling. We can only enjoy him.”
Lionel Scaloni doesn’t spend his time arguing that Argentina is the best team in the world or that he is the best coach. Instead, he makes a case for his captain. “Leo is the best player in history. What more does he have to do to prove that he is?”
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For these people and the 47 million back home, Messi is not just a footballer. He is a hero. A symbol of hope. And countries burdened with hardship often cling to heroes.
Argentina is no stranger to challenges. First came the Dirty Wars. Defeat of the Falklands. Hyperinflation. Then came Diego Armando Maradona. Five goals at Mexico ’86, and wounds healed.
36 years later, a third of the country lived in poverty. First came currency instability. Declining purchasing power. Then came Lionel Messi. Scored seven goals on Qatar ’22 and replenished the wounds.
Now, he has a chance to do it once again.
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Eight goals, four assists, 41 crosses, 154 attempted linebreaks, 25 chances created – he leads Argentina in every metric. Clearly, an army of men.
Yet that number hides something remarkable.
Messi has scored fewer runs than any other outfield player at this World Cup – not because age has finally caught up with him but because his teammates have chosen to shoulder the burden. Every yard he saves has been saved by someone else.
why
Mac Allister’s answer is simple.
“It’s obvious. Everyone in this team is willing to give everything for Leo. Because he does his own thing and we’re grateful for what he does.”
Those “own things” are irreplaceable. Only Messi could have bent in a cross for Martinez’s winner against England. Only Messi could have scored Argentina’s release against Egypt or slotted home a free-kick against Jordan.
His team knows that there is only one Messi. Argentina has only one hero.
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But for their heroes to win the World Cup, they must defeat a team they don’t believe in. Spain.
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La Rosa could have easily elevated their own hero. They have a Ballon d’Or winner in Rodry. Still, when asked if he would buy the honor for the World Cup, he replied without missing a beat: “Without a doubt.
Winning with your country can be the most special thing. Right now, the most important trophy I’ve won is the Euros, not the Ballon d’Or. I understand football collectively.”
Luis de la Fuente has promoted a similar theory throughout his tenure.
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“We are the best team in the world,” he said after beating France.
Lamine Yamal of Spain reacts on the field after France’s Lucas Digne is fouled in the box during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Not a team with the best player in Rodri or the best prodigy in Lamine Yamal. Simply, the best team.
Answering the most important aspect of his team, he said, “Our strength lies in our unity. We are a team, capital T. We have created this concept of family, and it is deeply rooted. For us, the feeling of being a group is most important.”
And what about individual talent?
“For me, the keyword is ‘team’. Not individual talent. You can be talented, but always at the service of the team. You have to prioritize the common good over individual interests. We look at it as mindset. It is decisive. Individual talent alone is not enough to win big tournaments. You can win matches with individual talent, but not big tournaments.”
Spain’s numbers reflect that creed.
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Messi tops almost every attacking category for Argentina. Spain’s leaders are scattered throughout the team: Mikel Oyarzabal in goal, Danny Olmo and Mark Cucurella in assists, Alex Baena in crosses, Aymeric Laporte in line breaks, Lamine Yamal in dribbles.
On Sunday in East Rutherford, an epic clash awaits. A team wants to conquer the world for their hero. Another believes that it doesn’t need to be the best.
Only one will win.