Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, provided a precise cross from the right, and Lautaro Martínez scored with a header in the second minute of stoppage time to secure the 2-1 victory that qualified Argentina for the final of the 2026 World Cup, after eliminating England this Wednesday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The Albiceleste thus completed another epic comeback in the tournament, confirming a reaction ability that has been their hallmark throughout the competition. The team led by Lionel Scaloni will play its second consecutive World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, against Spain.
The match was a clash of immense tactical intensity. The first half went by without goals, as both teams closed down spaces and contested every ball in midfield, not allowing any clear chances.
At 55 minutes, Declan Rice regained possession in midfield and the play concluded with Anthony Gordon scoring to put it 1-0 in favor of the Three Lions. England seemed set for the final.
But Argentina did not collapse. The team pushed forward, monopolized possession, and began to pressure Jordan Pickford's area, who maintained the English lead with several crucial interventions.
At 82 minutes, Enzo Fernández made an appearance with a powerful shot from outside the box that beat the English goalkeeper and leveled the score at 1-1, bringing hope back to the Albiceleste.
With the score tied, Scaloni turned to the bench, and among those who came on was Lautaro Martínez. The gamble paid off almost immediately.
In injury time, Messi lifted his head and crafted a perfect pass into the box. The Inter Milan forward anticipated the English defense and connected with a header that unleashed Argentine madness in the stands of the Atlanta stadium.
The stadium became an extension of Buenos Aires. From the stands, a chorus of "Thank you, Maradona" rang out, while the players unfurled a banner in the center of the field reading "The Falklands are Argentine," a gesture rich in symbolism given the historical context of their rival.
The banner generated immediate controversy, as FIFA could sanction Argentina for displaying it: the organization had explicitly prohibited the entrance to the stadium of flags or items referencing the Falklands, with an operation involving 1,600 police officers and separate access points for fans of both countries.
The build-up to the match was also filled with political tension. The Argentinian vice president ignited the atmosphere before the semifinal with high-voltage statements against England regarding the sovereignty of the Malvinas. Messi, adopting a more sporting tone, cautioned beforehand that "many foolish things" had been said during the week and promised to dedicate the victory to "those fools."
Argentina, the reigning world champion since Qatar 2022, arrives at the final in search of its fourth star. Its opponent, Spain eliminated France 2-0 on Tuesday, July 14 in Dallas, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.
The final Spain vs. Argentina is confirmed for Sunday, July 19 at 15:00, Cuba time, in what will be the most anticipated match of the 2026 World Cup.
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