Argentina are heading to their second consecutive World Cup final after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in Atlanta. Lionel Messi, now 39 years old, delivered two assists in the final 10 minutes to break English hearts once again.

The Match at a Glance

Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 at the Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday night. Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute, but two late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the game on its head.

The result sends Argentina to Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey, where they will face Spain. England will play France in Saturday’s third-place play-off.

How the Goals Unfolded

The first half was a tight, tactical affair with few clear chances. England defended well and Argentina struggled to find space.

England 1-0 (55’) — Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock early in the second half, finishing well to give England the lead. It was the moment the Three Lions had been waiting for.

Argentina 1-1 (85’) — Lionel Messi, who had been relatively quiet, came alive when it mattered most. From a corner routine, he found Enzo Fernandez on the edge of the box. The Chelsea midfielder slammed a powerful shot past Jordan Pickford to level the match.

Argentina 2-1 (90’+2’) — With the game heading towards extra time, Messi delivered again. He whipped in a cross from the right wing, and substitute Lautaro Martinez rose to head home the winner. The Atlanta Stadium erupted.

Messi’s Incredible Numbers

The statistics from this match are staggering. After England scored, Argentina had 88% possession for the next 37 minutes — and Messi was at the heart of everything.

  • 9 successful dribbles — more than the entire England team combined (7)
  • 2 assists — setting up both Argentine goals
  • 7 touches in the opposition box — equal to every English player added together
  • 4 chances created — again matching England’s entire team

Messi now has 8 goals and 4 assists at the 2026 World Cup, making him the joint top scorer alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe. His four assists put him one behind tournament leader Michael Olise.

England’s Tactical Retreat

Thomas Tuchel’s decision to send on more defenders after Gordon’s goal backfired badly. Instead of pressing for a second goal, England sat deep and invited Argentina pressure.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart explained on BBC: “The guys went back to what they did against Mexico and Norway where they locked the door. What that did was free up Lionel Messi, who had the skeleton key — he absolutely ran the show for the last 15 minutes.”

Captain Harry Kane said: “For large parts of the game we dealt with him really well, but as always with the most dangerous players in the world when they have the ball they can create something.”

What This Means for Argentina

Argentina will play Spain in Sunday’s final — a fitting opponent given Messi spent the majority of his career at Barcelona. If he scores or assists in the final, it will equal his personal record of 14 consecutive matches with a goal contribution.

Messi will also become only the second player after Brazil’s Cafu to appear in three World Cup finals, having played in the 2014 and 2022 showpieces.

“He’s the best player in history,” said Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni. “I don’t know what else he would have to do to prove that.”

What to Watch

The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain takes place on Sunday in New Jersey. Can Messi lift the trophy for a second time and cement his legacy beyond all debate? Or will Spain’s young stars, including Lamine Yamal, deny him the perfect ending?

England fans will have to settle for the third-place play-off against France on Saturday — a match neither side will want to play.

Sources: BBC Sport, ESPN