Lionel Messi inspired defending champions Argentina to a 2-1 comeback victory over England on Wednesday, sending the holders into the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Spain on Sunday.
England were destined for their first World Cup final in 60 years after Anthony Gordon gave Thomas Tuchel’s side a 55th-minute lead. But late goals from Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez, both created by Lionel Messi, turned the match around in Atlanta and sent Argentina into a seventh World Cup final.
The victory kept alive Argentina’s bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup and claim a fourth world title. It also marked another comeback for Lionel Scaloni’s side after their Round of 16 recovery against Egypt.
The semi-final was tight in the opening stages, with neither side threatening until the 33rd minute when John Stones headed wide from a Declan Rice free-kick. Fernandez also went close before the interval with a fierce effort that flew over the bar.
After the restart, Julian Alvarez forced a good save from Jordan Pickford before England took the lead through Gordon, who met Morgan Rogers’ low cross with a finish beyond Emiliano Martinez.
England defended well as Argentina pressed. Pickford denied Nico Gonzalez with a fine save, while Alexis Mac Allister struck the post as the holders pushed for an equaliser.
The equaliser arrived in the 85th minute when Messi squared a short-corner routine to Fernandez, who struck from outside the penalty area past Pickford.
Deep into stoppage time, Mac Allister’s effort came back off the post, but Messi recycled possession and delivered a cross for Martinez to head home the winner.
Messi, named Player of the Match, also made history by becoming the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup semi-final at 39 years and 21 days, surpassing the record jointly held by Fritz Walter and Gunnar Gren since 1958.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was emotional after the final whistle, hailing his players for another remarkable comeback.
“No words, no words. A joy for our country, for our people. This group never stops surprising me. We’re going to try to win, we’re going to leave everything out there, but after this it’s very difficult to get people to understand what these players are showing. It’s incredible. We are unique, and it’s not arrogance, it’s from the heart. These people carried us to victory today, and I’m grateful,” Scaloni said.
Match-winner Lautaro Martinez, who came off the bench to score the decisive goal, revealed he had predicted the moment before his introduction.
“I dreamed it. I told Alexis [Mac Allister] I was going to score and told Facu Medina I was going to come on and win it. Enzo scored a great goal too. This team keeps showing what it’s made of. England pressed for 60 minutes, but after that they had nothing left. They dropped back, we stretched the pitch, got the two goals and, after three and a half years, we’re back in a World Cup final,” he said.
England coach Thomas Tuchel admitted his side became too passive after taking the lead.
“We’re disappointed. We were so close, but after we scored we became too passive, conceded too many chances and couldn’t keep the ball. We switched to a back five because Argentina kept creating crosses and winning headers, but the match changed completely,” Tuchel said.
England captain Harry Kane echoed that assessment, saying: “When we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try to hold on, which at this level is not enough. After the goal it was just wave after wave of Argentina attacks. We’re close, but we still need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament.”
Spain and Argentina will meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday — the reigning European champions against the defending world champions.
