Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, provided a precise cross from the right, and Lautaro Martínez headed it in during the second minute of stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory that qualified Argentina for the 2026 World Cup final, eliminating England this Wednesday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The Albiceleste completed another epic comeback in the tournament, confirming their ability to react, which has been their hallmark throughout the competition. The team led by Lionel Scaloni will play its second consecutive World Cup final against Spain on Sunday, July 19.
The match was a duel of immense tactical intensity. The first half passed without goals, with both teams tightening their defenses and contesting every ball in midfield without allowing clear chances.
At 55 minutes, Declan Rice recovered the ball in midfield, and the play ended with Anthony Gordon scoring to make it 1-0 in favor of the Three Lions. England seemed to be on track for the final.
But Argentina did not crumble. The team pushed forward, monopolized possession, and began to pressure the area of Jordan Pickford, who held the English advantage with several crucial interventions.
At 82 minutes, Enzo Fernández emerged with a powerful strike from outside the box that defeated the English goalkeeper and leveled the score at 1-1, rekindling hope for 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 stoppage time, Messi lifted his head and delivered a perfect pass into the box. The Inter Milan forward anticipated the English defense and connected with a header that unleashed Argentine euphoria in the stands of the Atlanta stadium.
The stadium became an extension of Buenos Aires. From the stands, a chorus of "Thank you, Maradona" echoed, while the players unfurled a banner in the center of the field reading "The Malvinas are Argentine," a gesture heavy with symbolism given the historical context of the rival.
The banner immediately generated controversy, as FIFA could sanction Argentina for displaying it: the organization had explicitly prohibited the entry into the stadium of flags or items referencing the Falklands, with an operation involving 1,600 police officers and separate access for fans of both countries.
The buildup to the match was also filled with political tension. The Argentinian vice president ignited the buildup to the semifinal with high-voltage statements against England regarding the sovereignty of the Malvinas. Messi, in a more sportsmanlike tone, warned that "a lot of nonsense" had been said during the week and promised to dedicate the victory to "those idiots."
Argentina, the reigning world champion since Qatar 2022, reaches the final in search of its fourth star. Its rival, Spain eliminated France 2-0 on Tuesday, July 14 in Dallas, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.
The final between Spain and Argentina is confirmed for Sunday, July 19th at 3:00 PM, Cuba time, in what will be the most anticipated match of the 2026 World Cup.
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