Argentina Edge Closer to History After Gritty World Cup Journey

New York- Argentina are just one victory away from retaining the FIFA World Cup title, with only European champions Spain standing between them and history. If Lionel Scaloni's men triumph in Monday's final at MetLife Stadium, they will become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup.

The road to the final has been far from easy. Argentina have combined commanding victories with dramatic comebacks, hard-fought extra-time wins and another outstanding campaign from captain Lionel Messi.

At 39, Messi has once again led from the front. With eight goals, he tops the tournament's scoring charts and has rewritten the record books by surpassing Miroslav Klose to become the highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 21 career goals.

Argentina have also been the tournament's most prolific attacking side, scoring 19 goals in seven matches. Alongside Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Giovani Lo Celso have all played crucial roles in the team's run.

The defending champions opened their campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Algeria, where Messi marked his 200th international appearance with a hat-trick. The performance saw him equal Klose's World Cup scoring record before he broke it in the following match.

Against Austria, Messi recovered from an early penalty miss to score twice in a 2-0 win that secured Argentina's place in the knockout stage while making him the tournament's all-time leading scorer.

Argentina wrapped up a flawless group stage with a 3-1 victory over Jordan. Lo Celso opened the scoring with a free-kick, Lautaro Martinez converted from the penalty spot, and Messi came off the bench to score another stunning free-kick, taking his group-stage tally to six goals.

The knockout rounds, however, demanded resilience.

Tournament debutants Cabo Verde pushed Argentina all the way in the Round of 32. After Messi's opener, the African side twice fought back to level the score before an own goal, forced by Messi's corner in extra time, sealed a dramatic 3-2 win.

The Round of 16 against Egypt produced another memorable comeback. Trailing 2-0 with just over 20 minutes remaining, Argentina responded through Cristian Romero before Messi equalised despite having earlier missed a penalty. Deep into stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez headed home the winner to complete an incredible 3-2 turnaround.

The quarterfinal against Switzerland also stretched into extra time. Mac Allister gave Argentina the lead before Dan Ndoye restored parity. After Switzerland were reduced to 10 men, Julian Alvarez struck in extra time and Lautaro Martinez added another goal to secure a 3-1 victory.

The semifinal followed a similar pattern. England took the lead through Anthony Gordon, but Argentina responded once again. Enzo Fernandez levelled the score late in the game before Lautaro Martinez headed in Messi's cross during stoppage time to seal a 2-1 victory. Although Messi did not score, he created both goals and once again proved decisive.

Now, Argentina face their toughest challenge yet against Spain. The final pits the tournament's most potent attack, with 19 goals, against the competition's strongest defence, which has conceded only one goal in seven matches.

For Messi, it could be the perfect ending to what is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance. For Argentina, it is an opportunity to join Italy and Brazil as only the third nation to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title.

With inputs from IANS