Honestly, if you ask a Mexican fan about playing the Albiceleste, they might just look at the floor and sigh. It is one of those matchups that feels written in the stars, but the script is always the same. Since the very first tournament in 1930, Argentina vs Mexico World Cup fixtures have basically been a masterclass in heartbreak for El Tri.
They have met four times on the biggest stage. Argentina won all four.
It’s not even that Mexico is a "bad" team—they’re usually great. But every time they see those light blue and white stripes, things go sideways. Whether it’s a wonder goal from out of nowhere or a massive refereeing blunder, the luck always seems to lean South. It’s become a psychological wall that Mexico just can't climb over, and looking back at the history, you can sort of see why the fans get so anxious.
The Night Messi Saved Argentina in Qatar
Remember November 2022? The tension in the Lusail Stadium was actually suffocating. Argentina had just lost to Saudi Arabia in what was arguably the biggest upset in World Cup history. If they lost to Mexico, Messi’s last dance was over before it even really started.
For 64 minutes, Mexico played it perfectly. They were "delightfully stodgy," as some commentators put it. They clogged the middle, they fouled when they had to, and they didn't give Lionel Messi an inch of grass to breathe on. It looked like a 0-0 draw was locked in, which would have been a disaster for Argentina.
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Then, Messi happened.
One touch to settle the ball about 25 yards out. One low, laser-beam strike into the bottom corner. That single moment changed everything. Mexico collapsed a bit after that, and then Enzo Fernández—who was barely known by casual fans at the time—stepped up. He did a little step-over, shifted to his right, and curled a peach of a shot into the top corner. 2-0. Game over. Mexico was left wondering how they played so well for an hour and still walked away with nothing.
Why the 2006 Goal Still Haunts Everyone
If you want to talk about "the one that got away," we have to go back to Germany 2006. This was arguably Mexico’s best chance to finally put the Argentina vs Mexico World Cup curse to bed.
Rafael Márquez scored in the 6th minute. Mexico was actually leading! But a Jared Borgetti own goal (later credited to Hernán Crespo) leveled it quickly. The game dragged into extra time, and both sides were exhausted. Then came Maxi Rodríguez.
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He took a long, diagonal pass from Juan Pablo Sorín on his chest. He was on the corner of the penalty area, leaning back, and he just lashed a left-footed volley that flew over Oswaldo Sánchez. It was voted the Goal of the Tournament. Maxi later admitted he doesn't even use his left foot for anything other than getting into his car. Of course, he’d score the goal of his life against Mexico.
Controversy and the 2010 Disaster
The 2010 meeting in South Africa was a different kind of mess. Argentina won 3-1, but the first goal was a total sham. Carlos Tevez was miles offside—like, "you could see it from space" offside—when he headed in a pass from Messi.
The worst part? The replay was shown on the giant screen in the stadium while the Mexican players were still arguing with the referee, Roberto Rosetti. Everyone saw it. The ref saw it. The fans saw it. But because of the rules at the time, they couldn't overturn it. Mexico lost their heads after that. Gonzalo Higuaín pounced on a defensive error shortly after, and Tevez later added a rocket of a third goal. Javier "Chicharito" Hernández scored a consolation goal, but the damage was done.
It felt like the universe was actively conspiring against El Tri.
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The Numbers Behind the Rivalry
- 1930 World Cup: Argentina 6-3 Mexico (The high-scoring start).
- 2006 World Cup: Argentina 2-1 Mexico (The Maxi Rodríguez volley).
- 2010 World Cup: Argentina 3-1 Mexico (The offside Tevez goal).
- 2022 World Cup: Argentina 2-0 Mexico (The Messi/Enzo show).
Argentina has scored 13 goals across these four matches, while Mexico has only managed 5. Even outside the World Cup, the record is lopsided. In 32 total meetings, Argentina has 16 wins to Mexico’s 4.
Moving Beyond the "Argentina vs Mexico World Cup" Mental Block
So, how does Mexico actually fix this? It’s clearly not a talent issue. Mexico has world-class players. The problem is largely tactical and psychological. When Mexico plays Argentina, they often play not to lose rather than playing to win. They get defensive, they get cautious, and they wait for the "inevitable" mistake.
If you’re a fan or a student of the game, here is what needs to happen next time these two face off:
- Stop the Messi Obsession: In 2022, Mexico sat so deep to stop Messi that they forgot to actually attack. You can't beat a top-tier team if you never leave your own half.
- Focus on Youth Development: Argentina’s pipeline of talent—guys like Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernández—constantly refreshes the squad. Mexico needs more of its young stars playing in top European leagues to get used to that level of pressure.
- Hire Long-term Managers: The "rotating door" of coaches in Mexico makes it hard to build a consistent identity. Argentina stuck with Lionel Scaloni even when people doubted him, and it paid off with a trophy.
The next time an Argentina vs Mexico World Cup match pops up on the calendar, don't just look at the betting odds. Look at the body language. If Mexico can survive the first 20 minutes without "waiting for the disaster," they might finally break the most frustrating streak in North American soccer.
To really understand the tactical side of this, go back and watch the 2006 match. It’s the closest Mexico has ever been to perfection against the Albiceleste. Studying how Ricardo La Volpe (an Argentine himself!) set up that Mexican side is still the blueprint for how to frustrate a South American powerhouse.