Messi leads Argentina to comeback win over England, reaches World Cup final

Argentina, the defending champions, scored twice in the last minutes to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday. This victory secured their spot in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Lionel Scaloni’s team seemed to be losing when Anthony Gordon put England ahead early in the second half. But late goals from Enzo Fernández and substitute Lautaro Martínez brought Argentina back into the game and kept their title defence alive.

Argentina will now face Spain in the final on Sunday. This match promises to be exciting as it pits the South American champions against the European champions.

The semi-final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was tense from the start. Both teams struggled to create chances. In fact, it became the first FIFA World Cup match since 1966 without a single shot in the first 30 minutes.

England slowly found their rhythm and scored in the 55th minute. Morgan Rogers made a perfect cross for Anthony Gordon, who shot into the bottom corner. Gordon is the first player from last season's Premier League to score for England in the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina responded by putting pressure on England. Nicolás González and Alexis Mac Allister both had chances, but Jordan Pickford made a great save to stop Enzo Fernández.

The equalizer finally came in the 85th minute. Lionel Messi found Fernández at the edge of the area, and the Chelsea midfielder scored with a precise shot past Pickford.

With extra time looking likely, Argentina snatched the win deep into stoppage time. Messi assisted again, sending a perfect cross that Lautaro Martínez headed into an empty net in the 92nd minute. This goal sparked wild celebrations among the Argentine players and their fans.

Messi’s two assists showed his impact once more as Argentina reached their second World Cup final in a row. They won the trophy in Qatar four years ago.

For England, this defeat marked the end of another promising tournament. It was a special night for captain Harry Kane, who earned his 121st international cap. He became the most-capped outfield player for England, surpassing Wayne Rooney. Only former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, with 125 caps, has represented England more times.

Argentina now aims to be the first team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title when they meet Spain in the final on Sunday.