Argentina v Mexico, 26 November 2022

Kick-off: 10.00pm local (7.00pm GMT) . FIFA world ranking: Argentina 3, Mexico 13 . Following a run of 36 unbeaten games, having sensationally lost their Group C opener against Saudi Arabia, Argentina would have been eliminated from this World Cup tournament if they had lost this game (the second of their three group fixtures). . Argentina avoided losing three consecutive games at World Cup finals for a second time; previously between 1930 and 1958. . Argentina avoided losing their first two games at a World Cup tournament for the first time. . Lionel Messi had now equalled Diego Maradona’s national record of appearing in 21 games at World Cup finals for Argentina and they had both now scored eight goals at the tournaments. . Lionel Messi had now scored in six consecutive games for La Celeste for a second time; also from November 2011 to September 2012. . Argentina retained their record of never having lost consecutive games at World Cup finals against non-European opponents. . 12 of the 24 games so far at this World Cup tournament had been goalless at half-time. . Andrés Guardado became the third Mexican to play at five World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022) after Antonio Carbajal and Rafael Márquez. . Mexico’s Argentina-born manager Gerardo Martino was in charge of the Argentina national team from August 2014 to July 2016 and was a teammate of current La Celeste boss Lionel Scaloni at Newell’s Old Boys in the 1995-96 season. . Mexico had now failed to win in their opening two games of a World Cup finals for the first time since 1978. . Mexico had now failed to score in four consecutive games at World Cup finals for the first time (played 59). . Mexico had now lost all four World Cup finals meetings with Argentina; previously 6-3 in 1930, 2-1 in 2006 and 3-1 in 2010. .