Lionel Messi did it again. At 39, with Argentina minutes away from elimination, he became the decisive playmaker and transformed the World Cup semifinal against England.
Argentina appeared headed for a semifinal exit on Wednesday before Messi set up two late goals, completing a dramatic 2-1 turnaround for the defending champions.
The performance added another chapter to Messi’s historic World Cup career and moved Argentina within one victory of becoming the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the men’s World Cup.
Argentina stuns England in wild semifinal
Argentina booked its spot in the 2026 World Cup final after a stunning 2-1 comeback win over England on Wednesday night. The dramatic semifinal took place at Atlanta Stadium, also known as Mercedes-Benz Stadium, before a packed crowd.
England struck first through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute, finishing off a clean cross from Morgan Rogers. For most of the night, it looked like the Three Lions might reach a second World Cup final in team history.
Argentina refused to fold and answered back with 2 late goals in the closing minutes of the match. The defending champions advanced to their second straight World Cup final, keeping their dream of back-to-back titles alive.
Messi’s First assist sparks the comeback
Lionel Messi provided the spark Argentina desperately needed in the 85th minute of a tense night. He played a short corner to Rodrigo De Paul, received the ball back, then drove at two defenders before finding open space. Pressure was mounting on both sides badly.
With defenders drawn toward him near the box, Messi slipped a clever pass to Enzo Fernandez, who stood wide open near the top of the area. Fernandez controlled it calmly and fired a rocket past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The equalizer sent the Argentine bench into wild celebration and shifted the momentum entirely in their favor once again. It also set the stage for an even more dramatic finish just minutes later, as Messi was far from finished creating chances.
Little-known fact: Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at age 11 and needed nightly injections his family couldn’t afford, until Barcelona stepped in to cover the treatment.
A second assist delivers the winner
Seven minutes after the equalizer, Messi struck again deep into stoppage time to stun the crowd. Alexis Mac Allister rifled a shot off the post, and the rebound bounced dangerously toward the England defense before Messi raced in.
Messi gathered the loose ball near the touchline and drove hard toward the end line with purpose. He then whipped in a cross using his right foot, not his usual left, perfectly placed for a waiting teammate to attack.
Lautaro Martinez rose above his marker and headed the ball cleanly into the net for the winner. Notably, this semifinal marked the very first time in his long career that Messi had ever faced England on the field. History quietly followed him onto that pitch.
Old rivals clash after 24 years
Argentina and England had not met at a World Cup since 2002, when England won that group stage match 1-0 on a David Beckham penalty kick. Wednesday’s clash reignited one of international football’s most storied rivalries.
The history between these two nations includes plenty of unforgettable moments, from Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal in 1986 to Beckham’s red card against Argentina back in 1998. Each meeting between them has produced real theater and lasting drama.
Ahead of kickoff, Opta’s prediction model gave Argentina just a 34.1 percent chance of winning inside regulation time. The model slightly favored England overall, showing how tightly contested this semifinal was widely expected to be.
Messi now owns the World Cup assist record
Messi’s two assists against England raised his career World Cup total to a record 12. The performance further extended his lead as the tournament’s most productive playmaker in recorded statistics.
He had already moved ahead of Diego Maradona during the 2026 tournament and became the first player to register at least 1 assist in 6 different World Cups.
Messi also holds the men’s World Cup records for goals, appearances, and minutes played. At 39, he continues to add to a tournament career that began in 2006.
Little-known fact: Messi points to the sky after scoring in honor of his grandmother Celia, who passed away when he was young and was one of his earliest and biggest supporters growing up in Rosario.
Twelve World Cup assists across 6 tournaments
Messi’s record 12 World Cup assists have come across 6 editions of the tournament, highlighting the longevity of his influence as Argentina’s chief creator.
His first World Cup assist came in 2006, when he set up Hernán Crespo against Serbia and Montenegro. His latest 2 came against England in 2026, creating goals for Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez.
The record reflects Messi’s evolution from an explosive scorer into a player equally capable of controlling matches through passing, movement, and chance creation.
Argentina chases rare back-to-back glory
Beyond personal records, Argentina is chasing something far rarer and more historic as a team this summer. Italy was actually the first nation to achieve this, winning back-to-back titles in 1934 and 1938. Brazil followed them in 1958 and 1962. History rarely repeats itself in soccer.
No nation has repeated as champion since that legendary Brazilian dynasty more than 6 decades ago in soccer history. A win in the final would place Argentina in elite company and cement this generation as one of the greatest ever assembled.
Entering the semifinal, Argentina carried a perfect record while playing in North America throughout this tournament cycle. The team had preserved a 100 percent winning mark on this soil, adding extra weight to their push for lasting history.
The final awaits against Spain on Sunday
Argentina now turns its full attention toward Sunday’s World Cup final showdown against Spain in New Jersey. La Roja advanced after beating France 2-0 in the other semifinal, setting up a champion-versus-surprise-contender clash for soccer’s biggest prize.
While Messi has been spectacular, he has not overtaken Kylian Mbappé in total goal contributions for the 2026 tournament. Mbappé finished his tournament with 11 total contributions (8 goals, 3 assists), while Messi sits at 11 total contributions (8 goals, 3 assists) following his 2-assist masterclass against England. They are currently tied.
Whatever happens on Sunday, this incredible run has already added another unforgettable chapter to Messi’s storied career. Fans everywhere will be watching closely to see if the greatest player can end his World Cup journey with one final trophy for his country.
TL;DR
- Argentina beat England 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup semifinal, coming back from a 55th-minute deficit.
- Lionel Messi assisted both goals, setting up Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez in the 92nd.
- It was the first time in his career that Messi had ever faced England on the field.
- Argentina and England had not met at a World Cup since 2002.
- Argentina faces Spain in the final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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