Lionel Messi delivered when Argentina needed him most, providing two late assists as the defending champions came from behind to defeat England 2-1 and reach the 2026 World Cup final.
England appeared to be heading towards their first men’s World Cup final in 60 years after Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Argentina refused to surrender, however, and struck twice during a frantic closing period in Atlanta.
Enzo Fernández equalised in the 85th minute before substitute Lautaro Martínez headed home the winner two minutes into stoppage time. Messi created both goals, transforming a largely quiet individual performance into another decisive contribution on the sport’s biggest stage.
According to TV 2 Sport’s live coverage of the semi-final, the result sends Argentina into Sunday’s final against Spain, where Lionel Scaloni’s side will attempt to retain the trophy won in Qatar four years earlier.
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England take control after cautious opening
The first half was tense and physical, with neither side able to establish sustained control.
England worked hard to restrict Messi’s influence and prevented the Argentina captain from operating freely between midfield and defence. Fernández produced one of the few threatening efforts of the opening period, but the teams went into the interval level at 0-0.
Argentina began the second half with greater urgency. Jordan Pickford was forced into an early save from Julián Álvarez, but England soon struck at the other end.
Gordon finished a rapid attacking move in the 55th minute to give Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead. England had pressed aggressively and carried a threat on the counterattack, but their approach changed almost immediately after the goal.
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Tuchel’s players dropped deeper, allowing Argentina to dominate possession and send repeated crosses into the penalty area.
Argentina increase the pressure
England’s increasingly defensive position invited wave after wave of Argentine attacks.
Pickford made several important saves, while Alexis Mac Allister headed against the post in the 76th minute. Tuchel responded by removing Gordon and moving to a five-man defence, but the change left England with little pace or attacking threat when they regained possession.
As described in the Associated Press match report, Messi had been kept relatively quiet before emerging as the central figure in Argentina’s comeback.
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With five minutes of normal time remaining, he collected possession outside the England penalty area and found Fernández. The Chelsea midfielder swept a powerful shot beyond Pickford from the edge of the box to make it 1-1.
Argentina continued to attack rather than settle for extra time.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Messi found space on the right and delivered a measured cross into the penalty area. Martínez rose between England’s defenders and directed his header into the net, completing the turnaround.
The striker had only recently entered the match, but his first significant opportunity proved decisive.
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Messi praises Argentina’s character
The semi-final was Messi’s first appearance against England during his long international career, a detail highlighted by FIFA before the match.
Although the 39-year-old did not score, his two assists ultimately separated the teams and earned him the player of the match award.
“This group is incredible,” Messi said in his post-match interview, as quoted by TyC Sports.
“Today we went looking for it again when things became difficult. We never stopped believing or trying. We played football, and when we were behind, we pinned them back. It is an enormous happiness.”
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Messi also underlined the patience and unity Argentina showed after falling behind.
“It is incredible what this group has been doing, and today was another demonstration of character, desire, unity, strength and football, because we also went looking for it through our play and with patience,” he said, according to EFE’s report of his comments to FIFA.
Another final awaits
Argentina will now face European champions Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19.
It will be the country’s second consecutive World Cup final and Messi’s third, following defeat to Germany in 2014 and victory over France in 2022.
Argentina could also become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the men’s World Cup.
For England, the defeat represents another painful semi-final exit. For Messi and Argentina, it provides one final opportunity to extend an extraordinary era of international success.
