Lionel Messi provided two assists to lead Argentina to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over England in their 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final match at the Atlanta stadium.
The 39-year-old was the catalyst as Argentina won a physical contest that saw England defending after going ahead through Anthony Gordon.
The game started on a feisty note with tackles flying everywhere and referee intervened with yellow cards for Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez and England’s Elliot Anderson respectively for crunch tackles.
Argentina started the second half creating consecutive chances, but it was England who took the lead through winger Anthony Gordon. The new Barcelona player arrived at the back post to tuck in Morgan Rogers’ deep cross for 1-0 to England.
England went into a defensive shape and Argentina was given the space to try several options until the Albiceleste found a way, thanks to Messi’s vision.
Nico Gonzalez drew a save from Pickford before the hydration break, and Alexis MacAllister hit the post with a header before winger Gonzalez missed the far post with another header from a deep ball into the back post.
Argentina eventually leveled the match on 85 minutes through Fernandez, the Chelsea midfielder collected a Lionel Messi pass and lifted a swerving shot from just outside the area into the net for 1-1 with his second goal of the tournament.
Argentina scored the winner in added time through substitute Lisandro Martinez, with Messi delivering a cross on the platter for Martinez to head into the net to seal the 2-1 win.
Argentina qualify for their third World Cup final, and the champions would face Spain on Sunday for a chance to become the first country to win successive World Cup titles since Brazil in 1962.
