36 Years Ago Today: One of the 'Biggest World Cup Controversies' Happened
Lionel Messi and Argentina are headed to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup after a miraculous comeback victory against Egypt on Monday. After going down 2-0 at the 67th minute, the reigning world champions seemed doomed for a shocking Round of 16 exit.
Messi, however, had other plans. He whipped in a pinpoint cross for a Christian Romero headed goal in the 79th minute. The Barcelona legend then leveled the game with an 83rd-minute strike. Enzo Fernandez put the Argentinians up 3-2 three minutes into stoppage time, ultimately punching their ticket to a quarterfinal showdown against Switzerland.
While Monday's monumental win marked an unforgettable victory for Argentina, this was not the case some 36 years ago. On July 8, 1990, one of the most controversial decisions in World Cup history led to ultimate heartbreak for the proud nation.
Similar to this year's Messi-led squad, Argentina also entered the 1990 World Cup in Italy as the defending champions. They won their second World Cup title four years prior in Mexico 86.
Soccer legend Diego Maradona was the talisman of the 1990 squad. He led the team all the way to the final, where they faced West Germany. Unfortunately for Argentina, they suffered a 1-0 loss after what Britannica has labeled as one of the "biggest FIFA World Cup controversies" in history.
"A controversial penalty: Argentina, looking to defend its title, faced West Germany in a repeat of the 1986 World Cup final. The match, which remained scoreless until the 85th minute, came alive when the referee awarded a penalty to West Germany after a challenge on Rudi Völler in the penalty box," Andrew Pereira of Britannica wrote. "Andreas Brehme scored from the spot, and West Germany lifted its third World Cup. However, the referee's decision was controversial and has been debated since."
Maradona broke down in tears after the stunning loss. He made his feelings about the penalty decision extremely clear.
"There is a mafia even in the soccer world," Maradona screamed. "The penalty didn't exist. It was given just to let the Germans win."
Messi and Co. will aim to achieve what Maradona and the 1990 squad failed to do: win back-to-back World Cup titles.
Argentina and Switzerland will face off on Saturday with kickoff from Kansas City Stadium scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET.
Related: LEGO Unveils World's Biggest FIFA World Cup Trophy
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 4:09 AM.