Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez show it's more than just Lionel Messi for Argentina
Argentina's national football team is preparing for a World Cup semifinal against England, with analysts noting the team's reliance on Lionel Messi despite contributions from younger stars like Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. The team faces immense pressure as they attempt to defend their title.
Why it matters
The narrative captures the global cultural significance of the World Cup and the immense pressure placed on legendary athletes to maintain their legacy.
KANSAS CITY — Lionel Andres Messi is two games from football immortality; from undisputed, unassailable G.O.A.T. status; from removing any doubt or rebuttal over who’s the best to ever do it.
Same goes for Argentina, on all points, from a team perspective. Only two teams have ever done it — win the World Cup back-to-back — and the last time was 64 years ago. Italy in the ‘30s and Brazil in ’58 and ’62. They’d be the best ever, forever.
And those are the impossible expectations they face — that he faces — every time they take the field, just like they did Saturday night against Switzerland in the 2026 quarterfinals. In the end, they did what was required and they live to play another game, but Argentina are currently underdogs against England in the second semifinal on Wednesday (3 pm ET).
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in