Argentina produced a dramatic late comeback to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday, booking their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and keeping alive their bid to retain the title.
Trailing until the closing minutes, the defending champions turned the match around with goals from Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute and substitute Lautaro Martínez in stoppage time. Lionel Messi played a decisive role in both goals, inspiring Argentina to another memorable victory over England on the World Cup stage.
“I dreamt it; I swear. I told Alexis (Mac Allister) that I was going to score. I told him that I was going to come on and I was going to win it,” Martínez said. “I can tell you this team keeps showing what it’s made of.”
When the final whistle sounded, Messi dropped to his knees in celebration, while England’s players collapsed in disappointment.
Argentina have once again ended England’s World Cup campaign, adding the 2026 semi-final to famous victories over the Three Lions in 1986 and 1998.
England had looked on course for the final after Anthony Gordon gave them the lead in the 55th minute. However, Argentina gradually took control of the contest. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several important saves to keep England ahead, while Alexis Mac Allister struck the post with a header as the pressure intensified.
Messi was largely contained for much of the match but delivered when it mattered most. He set up Fernández, whose powerful strike from outside the penalty area levelled the score in the 85th minute. Two minutes into added time, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner crossed for Martínez to head home the winner.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said his team’s determination had once again carried them through.
“It is a show of the collectiveness, the brotherhood that we are in, the fight to the very end that we’ve got,” he said. “We were ready to go home, sad, knowing that we had left everything on the pitch, but after they scored, we really proved ourselves.”
England captain Harry Kane admitted the defeat was difficult to accept.
“I’m gutted for the team, the staff, and the fans,” he said. “We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every bit of blood, sweat and tears. To fall short like we did is just gutting.”
The defeat adds another painful chapter to England’s World Cup history, following semi-final losses to Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018. It also continued a recent pattern of surrendering leads in major tournaments, having also lost the UEFA Euro 2021 final to Italy after taking an early lead.
England manager Thomas Tuchel said his side became more cautious after going in front.
“Argentina played with more risk, played with more rhythm, and played with the feeling maybe that they have nothing to lose anymore, which freed them up and held us back because we suddenly played with a feeling that we have a lot to lose,” he said.
Argentina will now face European champions Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, after Spain defeated France in the other semi-final.
Victory would see Argentina retain the World Cup and give 39-year-old Messi another landmark achievement in what is expected to be his final appearance at the tournament.
“We’re going to try to win, we’re going to leave everything out there,” Scaloni said. “It’s very difficult to get people to understand what these players are showing. It’s incredible. We are unique, truly, and it’s not arrogance, it’s from the heart. We are unique.”
