If Argentina's run to the final can be described with one fact, it's this one— La Albiceleste has not led going into the 90th minute in any of its knockout stage matches. With two comeback wins and two extra-time victories, Argentina's run to the World Cup final has been unlike anything seen before. Four of its last seven World Cup knockout stage matches have gone to extra-time, with two coming this tournament. Lionel Messi & Co. will face Spain on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST at New York New Jersey Stadium on FOX. This matchup will be the first time the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in FIFA's rankings have met in the final (since rankings were introduced in 1992). It will also be the first ever World Cup final between the reigning European champions, and the reigning Copa América champions. So how did Argentina get here? Just how improbable has its World Cup run been? Let's dive in. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Behind Lionel Messi's first career World Cup hat trick, Argentina cruised to a 3-0 win over Algeria in its opener. After missing a penalty kick early in the match, Messi redeemed himself with two more goals in Argentina's 2-0 win against Austria to clinch Group J. Having already clinched Group J, Argentina mixed up the lineup with multiple new starters in the group finale vs. Jordan. Giovani Lo Celso scored the first non-Messi goal for Argentina this summer, while Lautaro Martínez added another. Then, after coming on via a substitution, Messi's brilliance was on full display once again as he scored a beautiful free-kick goal for his sixth goal of the group stage. In the Round of 32, Argentina barely survived what would have been one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Cape Verde, a country with a population of approximately 529,000 people, took the defending World Cup champions to extra time. After Messi's 29th minute goal put Argentina in front, Cape Verde answered in the 59th minute to force extras. Then, after Argentina took the lead once again in the 92nd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral scored the goal of the tournament to level the score once again for the Blue Sharks. As penalties loomed, a Cape Verde own goal provided the game-winning goal that sent Argentina through. If Cape Verde had advanced, it would have been the largest upset in a knockout stage match by FIFA rankings in World Cup history; Cape Verde was ranked 67th, while Argentina was ranked first (difference of 66 spots). For nearly 80 minutes, it looked like the defending champions were heading home. Argentina trailed Egypt 2-0 entering the 79th minute of its Round of 16 match before scoring three goals in a stunning 13-minute span to complete one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history. Egypt took the lead in the 15th minute, marking the first time Argentina had trailed in a World Cup match since its opening game of the 2022 tournament against Saudi Arabia. The Pharaohs then doubled their lead in the 67th minute, leaving Argentina on the brink of elimination. Then everything changed. Cristian Romero sparked the comeback in the 79th minute, converting a Messi assist to cut the deficit to 2-1. Just four minutes later, Messi found the equalizer himself. Then, in stoppage time, Enzo Fernández completed the miracle, scoring in the 92nd minute to seal an improbable 3-2 victory. In the quarterfinals, after an early goal from Alexis Mac Allister in the 10th minute, La Albiceleste looked like it was cruising to an easy win. Then, Switzerland's Dan Ndoye equalized in the 67th minute. However, just when all the momentum shifted to Switzerland, Breel Embolo was sent off moments later after picking up his second yellow card. The match was tied 1-1 through 111 minutes, until Julián Alvarez scored one of the best goals of the tournament to give Argentina the lead. Lautaro Martínez would scored a third in the 120th (+1), putting the nail in the coffin. After giving up a goal in the 55th minute, Argentina once again found itself trailing. But with five minutes left in regulation, Messi saved the day once again— finding Enzo Fernández for the equalizing goal. Seven minutes later, he found Martínez for the game-winner.
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