Argentina vs England ended with Lionel Messi producing two late assists as Argentina rallied from a goal down to beat England 2 to 1 and reach the World Cup final.
The match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was cagey for long stretches, with both teams playing intense defense. The first 30 minutes produced no shots on goal, and the half ended scoreless after a combined 19 fouls.
Argentina vs England: match summary
The deadlock broke in the 55th minute when Morgan Rogers sent an accurate cross that Anthony Gordon headed home to put England ahead 1 to 0. Argentina reacted with a tactical change, bringing on Nico González for Leandro Paredes in the 64th minute to add attacking impetus.
England shifted to protect the lead, inserting defender Ezri Konsa for Anthony Gordon in the 72nd minute. Argentina then pushed forward relentlessly and began creating clear chances.
Argentina pressure and near misses
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister led the surge, forcing two near misses when one header and one long-range shot struck the post. Those moments signaled growing trouble for England.
Messi takes control in the final minutes
With the match entering its final 10 minutes, Lionel Messi began to take control. In the 85th minute, Messi found Enzo Fernández with a precise pass, and Fernández curled a superb shot from outside the box into the net to level the score at 1 to 1.
In stoppage time, Messi supplied another decisive cross from the right. The ball landed on the head of substitute Lautaro Martínez, who nodded home the winner in the 92nd minute to complete the turnaround.
Argentina reached the final with a 2 to 1 victory, overturning a deficit against England in dramatic fashion. According to FIFA match statistics, Argentina held 64 percent possession, had 12 shots with five on target, and ultimately broke down England’s compact defense.
What comes next
Argentina will face Spain on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the World Cup trophy. Spain reached the final after eliminating France in the other semifinal the day before.
The match now looms as a possible farewell to Messi’s World Cup career, with global fans expected to witness what may be the final World Cup appearance for the Argentine captain.
Match statistics and timelines cited here are based on official FIFA match reports and postgame summaries.