[2026 World Cup] Messi Targets Both Golden Boot and Top Assists as Argentina Reach Final with 2-1 Comeback Win over England

Consecutive Goals from Fernandez and Martinez After the 40th Minute

Messi Provides Two Assists, Just One Shy of Top Assist Leader Michael Olise

Argentina to Face Spain in the Final on July 20, Chasing Back-to-Back Titles

'God of Football' Lionel Messi provided two assists, leading Argentina to the FIFA World Cup final for the second consecutive tournament.

On July 16, 2026 (KST), Argentina claimed a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over England in the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup held at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, USA. After conceding the opening goal to Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute, Argentina rallied with an equalizer from Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute and a dramatic winning header from Lautaro Martinez in stoppage time. Messi assisted both goals, recording two assists in the match. For this tournament, his tally is eight goals and four assists, putting him in contention for both the top scorer and top assist awards. He is currently tied for first in goals alongside Kylian Mbappe of France, and is in joint second for assists behind Michael Olise (five assists, France).

Argentina will face Spain in the final on July 20 at 4 a.m. (KST) at New Jersey Stadium in New York, USA. They aim for their second consecutive World Cup victory following the 2022 Qatar tournament, and their fourth overall title.

Lionel Messi is riding on a teammate's back after the game, responding to the crowd's cheers. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

England once again failed to break their 60-year drought in reaching the World Cup final since hosting the tournament and winning in 1966. Following their maiden triumph in 1966, England has come up short in the semifinals of both the 1990 tournament in Italy and the 2018 tournament in Russia, and this time, they let a victory slip away and missed out on the final.

The two teams, whose rivalry is steeped in history such as the 1982 Falklands War and Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ episode in the quarterfinals of the 1986 Mexico World Cup, engaged in a tense battle from the outset.

Less than three minutes into the match, players from both teams, locked in an intense pressing battle, clashed head-to-head on the pitch. Both sides continued with physical duels, creating few clear shooting opportunities.

England earned a corner kick in the seventh minute, but failed to convert it into a shot. In the 19th minute, Reece James pushed deep down the right and sent in a cross, but Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez claimed the ball before any threat could develop. Argentina also earned their first corner in the 24th minute, but a foul in the box halted play before they could attempt a shot.

Neither team had managed a shot on goal before the hydration break. The first shot finally came in the 32nd minute, when England earned a free kick just outside the box. John Stones met Declan Rice’s delivery with a header, but it missed the target.

In the 36th minute, with Messi starting a dribble near the halfway line, England’s Jed Spence and Harry Kane tried to intercept him physically. Eventually, Messi collided with Elliot Anderson and fell to the turf, leading to another round of confrontation among the players. A foul was called on Anderson, and Argentina recorded their first shot of the match on the ensuing free kick, though Messi’s attempt deflected off the English defense. Enzo Fernandez picked up the loose ball and unleashed a right-footed shot from distance, but it sailed just over the crossbar.

The first half ended scoreless, with England registering one shot and Argentina two.

Anthony Gordon is celebrating after scoring the opening goal in the 10th minute of the second half. Photo by AP News

Early in the second half, Julian Alvarez, the hero of Argentina’s quarterfinal victory, had a decisive chance inside the penalty box. Wrestling with Spence, Alvarez managed a shot on target, but England keeper Jordan Pickford made the save. Alvarez regained the ball for a second effort, but his shot only found the side netting.

In the 55th minute, Anthony Gordon, England’s winger who will be transferring from Newcastle United in the Premier League to FC Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga in the upcoming season, scored the opening goal.

Morgan Rogers delivered a cross from the right, and Gordon surged in behind Argentine defender Nahuel Molina to strike with the inside of his right foot, sending the ball into the net. It was Gordon’s first goal of the tournament after having already registered three assists.

However, after conceding the first goal, England came under intense pressure from Argentina. Argentina’s Giuliano Simeone broke into the penalty area for a shot, but Spence made a daring tackle to clear the ball out for a corner.

Enzo Fernandez is cheering after scoring the equalizer in the 40th minute of the second half. Photo by AFP

In the 68th minute, Messi swung in a dangerous cross which Nico Gonzalez met with a header right in front of goal, but Pickford reacted quickly, going to ground and deflecting the low shot with his right hand.

In the 76th minute, Alexis Mac Allister connected with a header from a Rodrigo De Paul cross, but his shot struck the left post. One minute later, Gonzalez again met a Messi cross with his head, but the ball drifted wide of the right post.

England faced several tense moments. In the 82nd minute, England manager Thomas Tuchel brought on defenders Dan Burn and Nico O’Riley in an effort to hold the lead, but ultimately, the decision backfired. With relentless attacking, Argentina scored two late goals to turn the match around.

Lautaro Martinez is scoring a winning header in injury time of the second half. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.

In the 84th minute, Fernandez unleashed a powerful right-footed strike from distance. Pickford got his fingertips to it and tipped it over the bar, granting Argentina a corner kick which led to the equalizer. After a short corner, the ball came back to Messi, who opted to find Fernandez just outside the box rather than cross into the area. This time, Fernandez’s right-footed shot found the back of the net for the crucial equalizer.

Argentina’s assault continued. Shortly after stoppage time commenced, Alexis Mac Allister’s right-footed strike ricocheted off the right post. Messi gathered the loose ball on the right flank and sent in a pinpoint cross, which substitute Martinez headed accurately into the net to complete the turnaround. England failed to mount any meaningful response in the remaining added time and succumbed to defeat.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.