Messi Keeps Argentina’s Crown Within Reach as They Storm Into Another World Cup Final

Khel Today Bureau 

Atlanta: Argentina produced another trademark late comeback to edge England 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium, booking their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, where they will meet Spain in a blockbuster title clash.

The opening 45 minutes offered plenty of intensity but very little goalmouth action, as both sides cancelled each other out in a tense tactical battle. England’s closest opportunity came in the 33rd minute when John Stones headed narrowly wide from a Declan Rice free-kick. In fact, the two teams combined for an expected goals (xG) of just 0.08 in the first half — the lowest ever recorded in the opening half of a FIFA World Cup knockout match since records began in 1966.

Argentina were content to sit deep before the break, wary of England’s pace in attack, and looked to hurt their opponents on the counter whenever opportunities arose.

England finally found the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half. Harry Kane dropped deep to initiate the move before Morgan Rogers delivered a sensational cross into the box, allowing Anthony Gordon to arrive at the perfect moment and guide his finish beyond Emiliano Martínez to give England a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute.

The goal forced Argentina into a tactical shift as Lionel Scaloni’s side pushed higher in search of an equaliser, while England retreated into a compact defensive shape, determined to protect their slender advantage.

Their resistance was eventually broken in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernández produced a moment of brilliance, curling a superb strike from 25 yards into the bottom-left corner after Jordan Pickford had denied him moments earlier. Lionel Messi was once again at the heart of the move, with VAR confirming the Argentine captain was onside before providing the assist. The contribution extended Messi’s remarkable record to 11 consecutive World Cup appearances with either a goal or an assist, the longest such run by any player since 1966.

Sensing momentum had shifted, Scaloni introduced fresh attacking legs, with Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martínez immediately injecting energy into Argentina’s attack.

The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time. After Alexis Mac Allister rattled the post, Messi reacted quickest to collect the loose ball before floating a sublime cross into the six-yard box, where substitute Lautaro Martínez powered home a header in the 90+2nd minute to complete yet another dramatic Argentina comeback.

Messi’s second assist of the night also meant he has now either scored or assisted in each of his last 13 matches for club and country, contributing 14 goals and 11 assists during that run.

Argentina’s victory was thoroughly deserved, finishing with an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.84 from 15 attempts compared to England’s 0.53 from just five shots. The defending champions now head to the World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium, where Messi and Argentina will face Spain in a mouth-watering showdown that will also mark the first World Cup meeting between Messi and Lamine Yamal. England’s impressive campaign comes to a heartbreaking end, with the Three Lions set to take on France in the third-place playoff in Miami.

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