The current generation of the Argentina national team refused to do anything less than carve its name in golden letters alongside the country's legends, after succeeding in reaching the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup for the second consecutive time, repeating a historic feat that had been absent from the 'Tango's' cabinet for 36 years.

Following the marathon victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals, Lionel Messi's teammates succeeded in booking their place in the semifinals for two consecutive editions (Qatar 2022 and North America 2026), an achievement that has only occurred twice in the history of Argentine football:

The first time (Maradona generation): in the 1986 Mexico edition (which they won) and the 1990 Italy edition (where they finished as runners-up).

The second time (current generation): in the 2022 Qatar edition (which they won) and the current 2026 edition.

This consecutive qualification increases the psychological pressure on the next opponent, England, as the Argentines have a special historical pride at this stage of the tournament amid serious efforts to retain the world title.

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