Lionel Messi once again proved why many regard him as the greatest footballer of all time, delivering two decisive assists as Argentina produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat England 2-1 and book their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.
The highly anticipated semi-final was a tense affair from the opening whistle, with both sides creating opportunities but failing to break the deadlock in the first half. England’s disciplined defence frustrated Argentina, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several important saves to keep the score level.
England struck first in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon finished a well-worked move to give the Three Lions a 1-0 lead, leaving Argentina facing elimination. Believing victory was within reach, England adopted a more defensive approach in the closing stages.
However, with just five minutes of normal time remaining, Messi took control of the contest. The Argentine captain teed up Enzo Fernández, who fired home the equaliser in the 85th minute, sparking wild celebrations among the South American supporters.
As the match entered stoppage time, Messi produced another moment of brilliance. Beating his marker on the right flank, he delivered a perfectly weighted cross for substitute Lautaro Martínez, who powered a header into the net to complete Argentina’s remarkable comeback and seal a 2-1 victory. Both Argentine goals came from Messi assists.
The victory sends the defending world champions into a second consecutive World Cup final, where they will face Spain, while England will take on France in the third-place playoff.
Messi’s performance further strengthened his outstanding tournament campaign. At 39 years old, he continues to lead by example, adding two more assists to his tally and reinforcing his status as one of the standout players of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For Argentina, the victory was another demonstration of resilience, composure and championship mentality. For Messi, it was yet another unforgettable chapter in a legendary career that now stands just one victory away from ending with back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles.
