Former footballer Prashant Bandyopadhyay analyzed Argentina's performance and prospects in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday night, highlighting both the team's strengths and weaknesses after a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt. Bandyopadhyay praised Lionel Messi's crucial role, especially the precision of his left foot, while pointing out significant defensive lapses that could challenge Argentina's campaign. The match took place on Tuesday night, where Argentina overcame a 2-0 deficit by the 79th minute to win 3-2.

"Messi showed why he is one of the world’s best footballers," Bandyopadhyay said, noting Messi's goal and his assist with a delicate left-footed chip that led to Cristian Romero’s goal. However, Bandyopadhyay also emphasized that Messi was heavily marked by Egyptian defenders, which somewhat limited his impact. The former player identified three main issues: Argentina did not utilize man-to-man marking, a strategy Egypt used effectively; the team made many misplaced passes affecting their control; and their defense was notably weak, allowing two goals due to defensive mistakes.

"If these defensive errors are not corrected, the team will continue to suffer," he warned. Bandyopadhyay also addressed controversy over refereeing decisions, stating, "The third goal was legitimate, and with modern technology, there is little room for error. If the referee had thought otherwise, the goal could have been disallowed." He further explained the tactical gaps, noting that the central defenders are increasingly separated, and midfielders who used to provide defensive support are no longer able to do so effectively.

This has caused struggles not only against Egypt but also in the previous match against Cape Verde. Highlighting Messi’s unique contribution, Bandyopadhyay said, "This time, Messi is carrying the team alone, setting Argentina apart from teams like Portugal and Brazil. Ronaldo, now 41, has not been able to impact the game as before, and Neymar’s World Cup ended prematurely due to injury." Looking ahead, Bandyopadhyay sees Argentina as one of the top contenders for the World Cup title, alongside Spain, France, and England.

He noted that while Spain needs to improve their finishing and France is performing well with Kylian Mbappé scoring seven goals, England's forwards are in good form, giving them an edge. "Argentina’s chance to win this World Cup primarily hinges on Messi’s left foot," he concluded. This analysis underscores the pivotal role Messi continues to play for Argentina at an advanced stage of his career, while also highlighting the urgent need for defensive improvements if the team hopes to secure the World Cup trophy.

The coming matches will test whether Argentina can maintain their resilience and tactical discipline to capitalize on Messi’s brilliance.