Argentina didn’t need the hand of god. Instead, it was the magical feet of Lionel Messi, inspiring Argentina to a 2-1 comeback victory over England to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup final.
For much of the semi-final, Argentina struggled to break down England’s organised defence after falling behind in the first half. However, the match changed after the break as Messi took control, creating the opening goal before producing a decisive assist to complete the turnaround.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner hit a precise pass to Enzo Fernández to level the score with a beautiful finish before setting up Lautaro Martínez with a pinpoint cross to head to the finals. Although he did not get on the scoresheet himself, Messi’s influence proved decisive as Argentina booked another shot at World Cup glory.
The victory sends the defending champions into their second consecutive World Cup final, where they will face Spain. A win would see Argentina become the first nation since Brazil (1958 and 1962) to defend the FIFA World Cup title successfully.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his side’s resilience after another comeback victory, saying his team performs at its best under pressure. He also credited the squad’s defensive discipline and belief after recovering from an early setback.
The result also saw Messi move level with Kylian Mbappé in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot. With another World Cup final now awaiting, the 39-year-old has moved one step closer to adding another historic chapter to an already unparalleled international career.
