Messi inspires dramatic turnaround
Argentina staged a remarkable comeback against England, securing a 2-1 victory in the World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta. The win, fueled by Lionel Messi, propels the reigning champions into the final against Spain. The match, held in front of 68,239 fans, saw Lautaro Martinez score the winning goal in the 92nd minute.
England had initially taken the lead in the 55th minute through Anthony Gordon, putting them on course for their first FIFA World Cup final since 1966. However, Argentina, known for their resilience, mounted a late surge to deny England the opportunity.
The rivalry between these two nations has historically produced memorable encounters on the World Cup stage. This particular match will likely be remembered as a legendary moment for Argentina, as they delivered two late goals to secure their place in the final.
Late goals seal victory
The turning point came in the 85th minute when Messi set up Enzo Fernandez for the equalizer. With extra time seemingly imminent, Messi delivered a precise cross for substitute Lautaro Martinez, who headed in the winner during the second minute of stoppage time.
This performance by Argentina kept alive their hopes of winning back-to-back World Cups, a feat not achieved since Brazil in 1962. Messi is now set to become only the second player, after Cafu, to appear in three World Cup finals. The 2026 final will take place at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, featuring a clash between the reigning champions of Europe and South America.
England, under manager Thomas Tuchel, will likely reflect on missed opportunities, particularly after taking the lead. Key players like Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane were unable to make a decisive impact in the latter stages of the game. England will now head to Miami to play France in Saturday’s third-place playoff.
A match of intense rivalry
The semi-final was characterized by intense physicality and a palpable sense of tension at Atlanta Stadium. The first half was marked by numerous fouls, including Elliot Anderson receiving a booking for a challenge on Messi, and Leandro Paredes fouling Bellingham early on.
After a goalless first half, the match came alive when Morgan Rogers delivered a cross that Gordon converted, putting England ahead. Following the goal, England adopted a more defensive posture, absorbing significant pressure from Argentina.
Argentina’s persistence paid off, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford making a crucial save from a Nico Gonzalez header, and Alexis Mac Allister hitting the post in the 76th minute. Fernandez’s equalizer, a powerful long-range effort from a Messi pass, ignited Argentina’s comeback. Mac Allister again struck the post before Martinez’s header from Messi’s cross sealed the victory, leading to widespread celebrations for Argentina and disappointment for England.
The match highlighted Messi’s continued influence, as he orchestrated the late goals that propelled Argentina into the final. His ability to create scoring opportunities, even in the closing moments of a high-stakes game, was central to Argentina’s success.
The 2026 World Cup final will see Messi face Spain for the first time in a competitive match, a significant event given his extensive career. Argentina now stands one game away from potentially matching Italy’s 1934-1938 and Brazil’s 1958-1962 record of winning consecutive World Cups.
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Source: aljazeera.com
