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  • 5 weeks ago
Lionel Messi once again proved why he is one of football's greatest legends as Argentina staged a sensational 1-2 comeback victory over England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final. After Anthony Gordon gave England the lead, Messi created two late goals for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez to send the defending champions into another World Cup final. Watch all the biggest moments, match highlights, goals, and reactions from this unforgettable clash as Argentina book a blockbuster final against Spain.

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00:06Argentina produced a sensational late comeback to beat England 1-2 in a thrilling FIFA World Cup
00:122026 semi-final at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Lionel Messi once again proved why
00:19he is football's greatest showman, setting up both goals as Enzo Fernandes and Lautaro
00:24Martinez fired the defending champions into another World Cup final. England were minutes
00:29away from glory before suffering heartbreaking late drama. The opening 45 minutes were a tense
00:36tactical battle with both sides cancelling each other out. England defended brilliantly and
00:41frustrated Argentina despite Lionel Messi's constant attempts to unlock the defence. The first half
00:47ended goalless after several physical challenges and intense midfield battles. England finally broke
00:54the deadlock in the 55th minute. Anthony Gordon finished off a brilliant attacking move to
00:59put the three lines ahead, sparking wild celebrations among the England supporters inside the stadium.
01:05Thomas Tuchel's side suddenly looked destined for their first World Cup final since 1966.
01:12Instead of panicking, Argentina slowly took complete control of possession. Lionel Scaloni introduced
01:18fresh legs while Messi continued to dictate the tempo with his passing and movement.
01:24Argentina kept pushing forward, forcing England deeper into their own half. Alexis Mack Alistair came
01:31agonizingly close on multiple occasions, while Jordan Pickford made several important saves to keep
01:37England in front. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 85th minute. Messi produced another moment of
01:43brilliance by finding Enzo Fernandes, whose powerful strike flew past Pickford to level the score at 1-1
01:50and completely changed the momentum of the contest. With extra time looming, Argentina launched one final
01:57attack in stoppage time. Messi once again became the creator. The Argentine captain delivered a perfect
02:04ball into the box for substitute Lautaro Martinez, who calmly finished in the 92nd minute to complete an
02:10incredible comeback. The goal sent the Argentine fans into celebration as England's players were left
02:16stunned after letting their advantage slip in the closing minutes. At 39 years of age, Lionel Messi once
02:23again produced a performance worthy of football history. Although he did not score, the legendary
02:29captain provided two decisive assists, controlled the game whenever Argentina needed inspiration, and led his
02:36nation into another FIFA World Cup final. Messi also strengthened his position in the golden boot
02:41race with eight goals and four assists in the tournament, underlining his extraordinary influence
02:47throughout Argentina's title defense. England had defended brilliantly for most of the match and looked on
02:53course for a famous victory after Anthony Gordon's goal. However, their decision to sit back invited
02:59relentless Argentine pressure. Despite a courageous performance from Jordan Pickford and the defense,
03:05they could not withstand Argentina's late attacking wave. Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel admitted the defeat
03:12was painful, but praised the team's fighting spirit throughout the tournament. The victory sends
03:18Argentina into yet another FIFA World Cup final, where they will face Spain in a mouth-watering clash for the
03:24biggest prize in world football. Spain reached the final after defeating France 2-0 in the first semi-final,
03:31setting up a battle between two of the tournament's strongest teams. Meanwhile, England will now face
03:37France in the third-place playoff. Argentina once again showed why champions are never beaten until the
03:43final whistle. England were just minutes away from ending decades of World Cup disappointment,
03:48but Lionel Messi's brilliance changed everything. With two magical assists, a dramatic late comeback,
03:56and another unforgettable night in World Cup history, Argentina marched into the final chasing back to
04:02back FIFA World Cup titles, while England were left wondering what might have been.
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