Lionel Messi continues to become Argentina's hero, but the breathtaking comeback against Egypt in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup also raises a big question. That is what the defending champion will be like without the 39-year-old superstar?
Egypt was very close to one of the biggest shocks of the tournament when leading Argentina 2-0 until the final minutes of the match. However, right at the moment the team needed it most, Messi spoke up.
After missing a penalty and playing quite lackluster for most of the match, the Argentina captain still knew how to shine at the right time with an assist for Cristian Romero to narrow the score, before scoring the equalizer himself just a few minutes later. In injury time, Enzo Fernandez completed a 3-2 comeback, bringing Argentina to the quarter-finals.
That was Messi's eighth goal at the 2026 World Cup. The 39-year-old striker also extended his scoring streak to 9 consecutive World Cup matches, while increasing his record to 21 goals to continue to hold the record for the greatest scorer in the history of the tournament.
Messi's performance further enlivened the debate about the title "Player of All Time". Although Pele, Diego Maradona or Cristiano Ronaldo still have a large fan base, the 2026 World Cup is a stage for Messi to affirm his special position.
However, behind Messi's aura is a significant concern for Argentina.
In the most difficult times, Albiceleste almost always had to wait for the genius moment of the captain to solve the match. This raises questions about whether coach Lionel Scaloni's team is too dependent on Messi.
Argentina's road to the quarter-finals is also not too harsh. The South American team successively surpassed Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cabo Verde and Egypt - opponents who are all outside the top 20 strongest teams in the FIFA rankings. The next opponent, Switzerland, is also only ranked 15th in the world.
Real challenges may appear from the semi-finals, where Argentina is likely to face "giants" such as England, France, Spain and Belgium.
Besides, the attack besides Messi still does not bring peace of mind. Lautaro Martinez, the main striker of Inter Milan, has only scored 2 goals for the Argentine national team in 2026. Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez also only has one goal in the last 12 matches.
In the opposite direction, Argentina's defense also revealed many problems when conceding 5 goals in just the last 3 matches against Jordan, Cabo Verde and Egypt. If they continue to defend uncertainly, Messi will have to rescue the team many more times.
At the age of 39, Messi is still creating a difference with a rare class. But if Argentina wants to successfully defend the World Cup championship, they will need more genius moments from the captain. Because the deeper they go, the more they have to face stronger opponents, where Messi's miracle may not always be enough to bring victory.
