Argentina Celebrates Dramatic World Cup Comeback and New Anthem

Argentinas fans display a banner depicting Leo Messi and Diego Armando Maradona, in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (left) and Argentina players singing 'the fourth star' in dressing room after win over Egypt.

Argentina's dressing room erupted in celebration after the team pulled off a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup round of 16 on Tuesday to book a place in the quarter-finals. Argentina looked on the verge of elimination after falling 2-0 behind in the 67th minute. But the defending champions scored three goals in the final 13 minutes, with Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez finding the net to complete the turnaround. The comeback brought a wave of emotions for the Argentina camp. From fearing an early exit to believing again and finally securing victory, the players experienced relief after one of the biggest wins of their campaign. After the final whistle, Messi was seen in tears as the players celebrated on the pitch. The celebrations continued inside the dressing room, where the squad sang, danced and shouted together after securing their place in the last eight. Players waved their shirts in the air and splashed water on one another, while Messi watched with a smile and a sense of relief after a night that had looked set to end in disappointment. During the celebrations, the players sang "La cuarta estrella" ("The Fourth Star"), the song that has become Argentina's anthem at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Argentina's 2026 World Cup anthem

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, "Muchachos", also known as The Land of Diego and Lionel, became the song of Argentina's title-winning campaign. For the 2026 tournament, Argentine fans have embraced a new anthem, "La cuarta estrella" ("The Fourth Star"), which celebrates the country's football history and its dream of winning a fourth World Cup. The song was written by Argentine musician Pablo Quintana, better known as Palmito Música. According to the Buenos Aires Herald, Quintana went viral in 2023 after posting a song on Instagram about his search for a rental home. The song also looks back at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where Argentina's campaign was hit after Diego Maradona tested positive for the banned stimulant ephedrine and was withdrawn from the tournament before FIFA could ban him. Maradona later remained in the United States as a television commentator.

Lyrics

“Soy hincha de la SelecciónLa aliento con el corazón,Ganamos la tercera con Lionel,Queremos ser campeones otra vez.Y 32 años después, La Scaloneta va a vengarLa Copa que le robaron al diez,La que no nos dejaron levantar.Quiero ver la cuarta estrella,Brillar en la camiseta.Soy argentino de la cuna hasta el cajón.Por Malvinas, por el Diego, por la última de Leo,Argentina quiero verte bicampeón.”

English translation

“I am a supporter of the national team. I cheer it on with all my heart. We won the third title with Lionel, and we want to be champions once again. And 32 years later, La Scaloneta will avenge the trophy that was taken from the No. 10, the one we were not allowed to lift. I want to see the fourth star shining on the jersey. I am Argentine from cradle to grave, for the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo's final chapter. Argentina, I want to see you become back-to-back champions.”