ATLANTA — Lionel Messi delivered two assists in the final 15 minutes to send Argentina into the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Wednesday, as the defending champions came from behind to beat England 2-1 in a dramatic semifinal at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring for England. But Messi set up Enzo Fernandez with a stunning long-range effort and then crossed for Lautaro Martinez to head home in stoppage time, breaking English hearts and sending Argentina through to Sunday’s final.
Fernandez leveled the match in the 85th minute before Martinez headed home in the second minute of stoppage time to complete one of the most dramatic comebacks of the tournament.
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Argentina advanced to their second straight World Cup final after the come-from-behind victory.
England had carried the game for long periods. The first half was dominated by physical battles in midfield, with both teams combining for 19 fouls and producing just two shots on goal. Gordon’s strike just after the hour mark looked to have put the Three Lions in control, but Argentina, as they have done throughout this tournament, found a way.
England captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham each scored six goals at the tournament, marking the first time in World Cup history that two players from the same nation reached that milestone in a single edition. It was not enough.
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Argentina kept getting away with it throughout this tournament, having outlasted Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and completed an improbable comeback against Egypt before subduing England in the same fashion.
England coach Thomas Tuchel’s message heading into the match had been simple: history cannot score the next goal. In the end, history did not need to. Messi did it himself.
Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final.
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