Where does Saudi Arabia's World Cup win over Argentina rank among greatest upsets in sports? | D'Angelo

Everyone loves the underdog.

As time ticked down on longshot Saudi Arabia's stunning 2-1 victory over powerhouse Argentina during Tuesday's group stage match of the World Cup in Qatar, the crowd noise increased in anticipation of arguably the greatest upset in World Cup history.

Then the final whistle sent a shockwave throughout the sport.

Argentina, ranked No. 3 in the FIFA world rankings, was taken down by a team ranked No. 51. The Lionel Messi-led team could not maintain the momentum from Messi's first-half goal and allowed two goals in the final 45 minutes.

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Argentina entered with the second-best odds to win the World Cup at +550 while Saudi Arabia is tied with Qatar and Costa Rica for the worst odds at +75000. The loss was Argentina's first since 2019, a span of 36 matches.

The upset will go down as one of the greatest in sports' history. Here is our top 10:

1. USA Men's hockey shocks Russia in 1980 Olympics

"Do you believe in Miracles?"

No other phrase is associated with a single sporting event in this country more than the one Al Michaels uttered in the final seconds of the USA's 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union during the medal round of the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid.

Known as the Miracle on Ice, the US scored twice in the third period, the game winner by captain Mike Eruzione with 10 minutes remaining. The heavily favored Soviet Union entered as a four-time defending gold medalist. The U.S. defeated Finland two days later to win the gold medal.

2. Saudi Arabia stuns Argentina at World Cup

Saudi Arabia scored twice in a span of five minutes in the second half, leaving the entire nation of Argentina in shock. That feeling got worse as one miraculous save after another in the final minutes preserved the lead and the win.

How improbable was this win? Argentina's team is worth $769 million according to CIES (International Center for Sports Studies), its most valuable player, Lautaro Martinez, is worth an estimated $101 million.

The entire Saudi team is worth $50.3 million.

Not to mention Argentina featured the world's highest-paid athlete, Lionel Messi, the legendary winner of a record seven Ballon d'Or awards as world player of the year.

How do you say "Do you believe in miracles" in Arabic?

3. Amateur Francis Ouimet wins 1913 U.S. Open

Francis Ouimet grew up across the street from The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and when the U.S. Open came to town in 1913 he took that local knowledge and pulled off the greatest upset in golf history.

Ouimet, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray all were tied at 12-over par after 72 holes. Ouimet then shot a 1-under 72 in the 18-hole playoff, four shots better than Vardon, five ahead of Ray. Some called Vardon and Ray the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy of their day.

4. Buster Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson

Not only had Mike Tyson never lost a fight, he had never been knocked down when he stepped into the ring against Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990. But in the 10th round both happened, Tyson went down and was counted out, losing to the 42-to-1 underdog.

Tyson was the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and considered invincible in the ring. He was 37-0, winning 33 by knockout. Douglas was relatively unknown as the No. 7 heavyweight in the world and in his previous title fight three years earlier lost by a TKO in the 10th round.

5. UMBC only No. 16 seed to defeat No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament

The term Cinderella is most often associated with March Madness and the 2017-18 University of Maryland, Baltimore County team is the greatest Cinderella in the tournament's history.

UMBC's 74-54 victory over Virginia in Charlotte, N.C., remains the only time a 16 seed eliminated a No. 1 seed. Virginia entered 31-2 and as a 20.5-point favorite. Top seeds are 143-1 all-time against 16 seeds.

6. Joe Namath guarantees Jets win over Colts in Super Bowl III

Quarterback Joe Namath backed up his guarantee by leading the New York Jets to a 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts in the 1969 Super Bowl in Miami.

Namath guaranteed his team's victory three days earlier at an appearance at the Miami Touchdown Club. The AFL and NFL already had announced they would merge after the 1969 season, but many credit this as the game that gave the AFL credibility.

7. Appalachian State quiets the Big House

Appalachian State entered its 2007 game against No. 5 Michigan as 33-point underdog. When it was over, the Mountaineers' 34-32 win over the Wolverines became the standard by which all college football upsets are measured.

The game-winner was Julian Rauch's 24-yard field goal 26 seconds left. Michigan then had a 37-yard field goal attempt blocked on the game's final play.

8. Rich Strike strikes it Rich in Kentucky Derby

Rich Strike was an 80-1 longshot at the 2022 Kentucky Derby and won the race by three-quarters of a length. The horse paid $163.60 on a $2 bet to win.

The second-biggest longshot to win the Kentucky Derby, Rich Strike was not in the field until Ethereal Road was scratched the previous day.

9. Rulon Gardner beats the "Russian Bear" in 2000 Olympics

When Wyoming dairy farmer Rulon Gardner upset the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler in the world at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the announcer shouted, "Do you believe in miracles again?”

Russia’s Aleksandr Karelin entered the gold medal match with three Olympic titles and nine world championships. He had not lost in 13 years. Gardner won the match, 1-0, and Karelin retired after the match.

10. Villanova takes down Georgetown in NCAA title game

Villanova had to fight to get into the 1985 NCAA Tournament but once there, the Wildcats were unbeatable, winning the national championship by shooting 78.6 percent in a 66-64 victory over No. 1 Georgetown in the title game.

Rollie Massimino's team, unranked in the final regular season poll, defeated two No. 2 seeds and two No. 1 seeds en route to the title.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Saudi Arabia's World Cup win over Argentina among greatest sports upsets