The Albiceleste face Switzerland in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal this Sunday, and Argentina arrives with a reputation for defying expectations. After narrowly escaping defeat against Cape Verde in the Round of 16—securing a dramatic 3-2 victory in extra time—and overturning a two-goal deficit against Egypt in the Round of 16, the reigning champions have shown a tenacity that borders on the supernatural. Mental fortitude has become the hallmark of Scaloni’s squad, a trait that sets them apart in a tournament where underdogs often falter.

Take Tuesday’s clash in Atlanta: down 2-0 to Egypt with just 16 minutes remaining, the Albiceleste teetered on the edge of elimination. Yet within a breathtaking 15-minute span, Lionel Messi delivered a pinpoint cross to Cristian Romero, who leveled the score, before Enzo Fernández’s last-gasp header in stoppage time sent the stadium into raptures. Messi, the 39-year-old maestro, collapsed to his knees in tears—a moment that encapsulated Argentina’s unyielding spirit.

“Very few teams can turn around results with such chaos in tow—Messi’s missed penalty, missed chances, and the Egyptian goalkeeper’s heroics,” remarked former France international Jérôme Rothen in his post-match analysis. Just three days prior, Argentina had survived another cliffhanger against Cape Verde, twice coming from behind before prevailing 3-2 after extra time. Cramping muscles and exhaustion painted a picture of a team pushed to its absolute limits.

“This group has personality and temperament in spades—it’s their greatest strength,” Rothen added. Franck Leboeuf, World Cup winner in 1998, echoed the sentiment: “I was struck by their unity. That kind of togetherness can decide matches against any opponent.”

The soul of Argentine football: a culture of suffering and triumph

The concept of “garra”—the unrelenting tenacity that defines Argentine football—has been thrust into the spotlight. The local press and fans have lionized this resilience, framing it as the backbone of the national team’s identity. Olé, the country’s leading sports daily, captured the sentiment perfectly: “Resilience isn’t bought at a pharmacy or ordered online. It’s not learned from a textbook. It’s lived, suffered, fought for—and Argentina does all of that, relentlessly.”

Souleymane Diawara, former Senegalese international and current pundit, offered a more measured perspective: “A team chasing back-to-back titles can’t afford to waver against nations like Cape Verde or Egypt. Argentina remains vulnerable and hasn’t yet faced a true heavyweight.” Former French defender Éric Di Meco concurred, dismissing concerns about Sunday’s opponent: “Switzerland, or even potential semifinal foes England and Norway, won’t trouble Argentina. Their path to the final is wide open, and the formula is working—why change it?” His reasoning? Argentina shares the record for most World Cup matches decided in extra time (12) and has triumphed in ten of them.

Stronger than in 2022?

Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar was built on a foundation of narrow escapes. While they dismantled Croatia 3-0 in the semifinals, the rest of their journey was anything but smooth: a scrappy victory over Australia in the Round of 16, followed by two nail-biting penalty shootouts—against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals and France in the final. With Angel Di María retired, the core of that squad remains intact in 2026, and the signs point to an even more formidable side. “From the outset, I felt this team could replicate—or even surpass—their 2022 success,” Leboeuf observed. Rothen and Di Meco went further, declaring the Albiceleste “stronger than they were four years ago in Qatar.”

Central to this evolution is the form of Lionel Messi, whose eight goals in this tournament have been instrumental. Yet Diawara cautioned: “Messi can’t single-handedly carry Argentina forever. The day he’s neutralized, the team will struggle.” Still, the nation’s hopes rest on a second consecutive World Cup, a dream fueled by a squad that treats every match like a battle to the death.