Argentina Reaches World Cup Final with Dramatic Comeback Win Over England, Messi Provides 2 Assists

Defending champion Argentina has advanced to the final of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup after a thrilling comeback victory against England, the birthplace of football.

In the semifinal match held at Atlanta Stadium in the United States today (July 16), Argentina secured a 2-1 win with an equalizer from Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute and a go-ahead goal from Lautaro Martinez during stoppage time.

Lionel Messi, the football icon, provided the assists for both of Argentina's goals.

The final will feature a showdown between Argentina, led by Messi, and Spain, the "Invincible Armada" known for their suffocating defense.

The final match is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 a.m. on July 20 at New Jersey Stadium in the United States.

Spain reached the final first by defeating France—the 2018 Russia World Cup champion and 2022 Qatar World Cup runner-up—with a 2-0 victory yesterday.

Having won the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Argentina has now reached the final stage for the second consecutive tournament.

Now, they are just one win away against Spain from achieving back-to-back World Cup titles and their fourth championship overall.

The 39-year-old Messi, who led Argentina to victory in the Qatar tournament, is once again challenging for the world title, leading younger teammates who almost worship him.

England, which had been on the verge of reaching its first World Cup final in 60 years since the 1966 tournament held on home soil, failed to hold on in the final five minutes and was eliminated, continuing its streak of misfortune in major tournaments.

England has won the World Cup only once, in 1966, and has reached the semifinals only three times, including this tournament.

In the UEFA European Championship, they have finished as runners-up twice but have never won the title.

The third-place match between England and France will be held at 6:00 a.m. on July 19 at Miami Stadium in the United States.

True to the history of intense matchups between England and Argentina on the World Cup stage, the players clashed fiercely from the beginning, resulting in a total of 19 fouls called in the first half alone.

England focused its defensive efforts on Messi.

In the 37th minute, during an Argentine counterattack, four players swarmed Messi as he attempted to dribble, knocking him down and causing a temporary halt in the match as players from both sides confronted each other.

Elliott Smith, who delivered the final rough tackle, received a yellow card.

The tense 0-0 deadlock was finally broken in the 55th minute.

Morgan Rogers delivered a sharp cross from the right, which Anthony Gordon finished with a one-touch right-footed shot into the net.

Gordon's movement, penetrating the space behind the defense without being detected, was exceptional.

Argentina launched a series of attacks and created several opportunities, but they struggled to convert them into goals.

In the 69th minute, a header by Nicolas Gonzalez following a Messi cross, and in the 76th minute, a header in front of the goal by Alexis Mac Allister were both blocked by the miraculous saves of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who read the direction of the shots.

However, even Pickford could not stop a powerful long-range shot from Enzo Fernandez into the bottom left corner in the 86th minute, which resulted in the equalizer.

Messi's play was brilliant, as he feigned a move to the right to create shooting space for Fernandez before providing the assist.

Argentina's comeback goal in the 92nd minute was also created by Messi.

After a long-range shot by Mac Allister hit the right goalpost and rebounded, Messi collected the ball and sent a cross into the box, which led to a header goal by Lautaro Martinez.

Martinez, who was substituted into the match in the 81st minute, scored the precious winning goal just 11 minutes later.

Argentina has now won all four of its knockout stage matches in this tournament through either extra time or comebacks.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.