ATLANTA. The Argentina national team staged an epic comeback in the final minutes to defeat England 2-1 and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where they will face Spain in search of defending the title won in Qatar 2022.
The team led by Lionel Scaloni seemed headed for elimination after the goal by Anthony Gordon, which gave the English the lead and brought Thomas Tuchel‘s team closer to the grand final.
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However, when the outlook looked most complicated, Lionel Messi appeared once again to change the fate of the match.
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At the 85th minute, the Argentine captain set up Enzo Fernández, who unleashed a powerful shot to level the score and restore hope to the Albiceleste.
With the momentum of the equalizer, Argentina pushed forward in attack against an England side that dropped their lines in an attempt to preserve the result. Manager Thomas Tuchel’s strategy ended up favoring the South Americans, who dominated the final minutes.
In stoppage time, Messi was decisive once again. The Argentine star broke down the right flank, reached the byline, and sent a precise cross into the heart of the box, where Lautaro Martínez appeared completely unmarked to connect with a clinical header and score the definitive 2-1 in the 92nd minute.
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The comeback allowed Argentina to reach its seventh World Cup final, once again consolidating Messi’s leadership on football’s biggest stage.
The world champion will now seek to defend its crown when it faces Spain in the grand final of the 2026 World Cup, while England will have to play the third-place match after falling just short of the championship decider.
Goals
- England: Anthony Gordon.
- Argentina: Enzo Fernández (85′) and Lautaro Martínez (90+2′).
With two assists from Lionel Messi and a reaction full of character in the final minutes, Argentina once again demonstrated its ability to overcome adversity and is one win away from conquering a new World Cup.
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