Lionel Messi, Argentina come back vs. England 2-1 to reach World Cup final
Never underestimate the heart of a champion.
With their backs against the wall, Argentina came back to stun England 2-1 in the second 2026 World Cup semifinal. Lionel Messi assisted both goals when his country needed him the most.
La Albiceleste will now face Lamine Yamal and Spain in New York/New Jersey Sunday in the final. Messi and Argentina are hoping to become the first repeat World Cup champions in nearly 70 years.
Unlike France failing its first big adversity test vs. Spain in the first semifinal on Tuesday, both Argentina and England had been battle tested entering the clash.
Argentina made one key change to its starting lineup, bringing in Guiliano Simeone on the right flank of the 4-4-2 setup. The previous team of four pure central midfielders had not been up to standard.
England, meanwhile, went with Djed Spence and Reece James at each full-back slot, with Morgan Rogers getting the right-wing spot over Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke.
The first half came and went without much action, apart from a few mini scuffles. The Three Lions had just 0.05 expected goals off one header by John Stones, with Argentina at 0.03 expected goals on two shots, per data-tracking platform FotMob.
Messi and Jude Bellingham had moments dribbling the ball in transition, while Harry Kane hadn’t done enough on the ball.
Argentina nearly took the lead a few minutes after halftime. Julian Alvarez got in behind Spence, forcing a key save from Jordan Pickford, though he had the angle well covered. But Messi retained the ball, leading to another chance by Alvarez that was forced out for a corner. England avoided a close call.
England then struck first in the 55th minute, breaking through in transition. Rogers’ in-swinging cross was tapped home by Anthony Gordon, who took advantage of Nahuel Molina sleeping at the back post.
It was far from an easy tap by Gordon, but the newly signed Barcelona winger netted his first goal of the tournament.
Ironically, the opening goal would be England’s undoing.
Thomas Tuchel, a German native, went too defensive too early. England ended up sitting back in a more reserved shape despite being even with Argentina up to the goal.
Ezri Konsa then came in for Gordon in the 72nd minute, as Tuchel opted for three center-backs. But taking off England’s lone speedster in attack wouldn’t work with Kane as the lone striker.
Argentina eventually broke through in the 85th minute after multiple close calls on headers and efforts that hit the post.
Recycling the ball off a corner, Enzo Fernandez nailed one from outside the box after threatening Pickford in similar scenarios throughout the game. Messi claimed the assist, though Fernandez’s shot did all the work.
Fernandez came up clutch several times when Argentina won the 2022 World Cup. He also scored the winning header vs. Egypt in the dramatic 3-2 comeback. So it was fitting that he once again delivered the moment his nation needed.
Tuchel’s gameplan once England led relied on keeping a clean sheet. After the equalizer, he had just two substitute options left with Argentina having all the momentum.
Then in the second minute of nine added minutes, Lautaro Martinez rose highest to head home Messi’s cross from the right flank. The ball went just over the head of John Stones. Martinez had come up with clutch goals throughout the tournament, too, and he had just entered in the 81st minute.
Tuchel then brought on Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney for two attacking moves, but it came after six added minutes — nowhere near enough time for the forwards to make an impact.
Argentina held on for the win with 6-foot-7 center-back Dan Burn going up top to try to win headers, while Kane floated in midfield areas to ping the ball up instead. That strategy was just not going to cut it.
La Albiceleste finished the game with 1.84 expected goals across 15 shots, with 28 touches in England’s box. The Three Lions had only 0.53 expected goals on five shots and seven touches in Argentina’s box. Argentina also finished with 64% possession.
The defensive gameplan by Tuchel essentially sealed England’s fate. It worked in Mexico City when England needed to defend a 3-2 lead with 10 men. However, that was the only viable option at Tuchel’s disposal in that context.
It’s far too risky in a World Cup semifinal when you’re going toe to toe with the defending champions — especially when Messi is on the other side.
Argentina will now face a Spanish side in its second ever World Cup final. Spain made its first final in 2010 and took down the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time. This is La Furia Roja’s first time back in the big game since then, with Yamal, Rodri, Mikel Oyarzabal, Mikel Merino and more playing key roles.
Argentina-Spain was supposed to be the 2025 Finalissima matchup, but it was postponed to 2026. It was eventually canceled outright due to the war with Iran starting, as Qatar was expected to host the contest.
It now looks like destiny would not be denied between the recent European and South American champions, as the 19-year-old Yamal and Messi could be a true passing of the torch moment with Kylian Mbappe and France out.
Messi and Yamal were featured in a viral photo together when the latter was a toddler. Fast forward all these years later, both are left-footed right wingers, have deep Barcelona ties and carry their respective nation’s hopes on their shoulders.
The final in New York/New Jersey on Sunday will kick off at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT/12 p.m. PT.
From breaking news and local politics to art exhibitions, live music, high school sports, small businesses, and cultural events, we celebrate the people and places that make Connecticut unique.