Argentina national football team rallies from bottom to win against Mexico

With 30 minutes left in their second World Cup group stage match, Argentina sat at the bottom of Group C. Then Lionel Messi reminded everyone why he’s Lionel Messi.

Argentina defeated Mexico 2-0 on November 26, 2022, at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, a result that kept their World Cup dreams alive after a shocking opening loss to Saudi Arabia. The match drew 88,966 fans, the highest attendance for a men’s World Cup game in 28 years.

A tournament on the brink

Argentina entered the 2022 World Cup on a 36-match unbeaten run. They were among the favorites. Then Saudi Arabia happened, delivering one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history and leaving Argentina with zero points after matchday one.

Mexico, for their part, had drawn their opening match and entered with one point. The first half reflected the tension, with neither side able to break the deadlock through 45 minutes of cautious, cagey football.

Messi breaks the deadlock

In the 64th minute, the moment arrived. Ángel Di María found Messi with an assist, and the Argentine captain unleashed a strike from outside the box that flew into the net.

In the 87th minute, substitute Enzo Fernández curled in a second goal to put the result beyond doubt. The 21-year-old midfielder, who would go on to win the tournament’s Best Young Player award, picked the perfect moment to announce himself on the world stage.

The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory. Argentina moved to three points in Group C, very much alive in the tournament.

A rivalry with deep roots

The November 2022 meeting was their 32nd head-to-head encounter. Argentina leads the all-time series with 16 wins to Mexico’s 12, with four draws.

Argentina’s turnaround from the Saudi Arabia defeat to the Mexico victory became a defining narrative of the entire 2022 World Cup. They went on to win the whole thing, with Messi finally lifting the trophy that had eluded him throughout his career.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.