Messi leads Argentina to World Cup final and clash with Spain in 'unprecedented' title match

Caption: Lionel Messi will play his third final in history next Sunday

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Caption: Messi extends his record as the player with the most assists in World Cup history with 12 assists, 10 of which were in knockout stages

All-time World Cup top scorer Lionel Messi led defending champions Argentina to turn the tables on England with a 2-1 victory thanks to two late goals on Wednesday in Atlanta, reaching the 2026 World Cup final and setting up a clash with Spain.

England were on their way to reaching only their second final after 1966 when they won their only title, having taken the lead through Anthony Gordon (55th minute), but Argentina repeated what they did in their matches against Egypt and Cape Verde by turning the game around with goals from Enzo Fernández (85th minute, powerful shot) and substitute Lautaro Martínez (90+2 minute, header) following two decisive assists from Messi.

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Unprecedented final

Messi, the all-time World Cup top scorer (21 goals, one ahead of France striker Kylian Mbappé) and joint leader in the scoring charts for this edition (8 goals each, but Messi leads in assists), increased his goal contributions to 12 assists in tournament history, a record.

Argentina, reaching their second consecutive final and seventh overall in pursuit of a fourth title after 1978, 1986, and 2022, will meet Spain, European champions who defeated runners-up France 2-0 on Tuesday in Dallas, in the final next Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, near New York.

It will be the first time in World Cup history that the champions of South America and Europe meet in the final, and the first time between two Spanish-speaking teams since the 1930 final between Uruguay and Argentina.

Meanwhile, England, who failed for the third time to reach the final as well in 1990 and 2018, will play the third-place match against France on Saturday in Miami.

This is the seventh time Argentina have reached the final, after 1930, 1990, and 2014 when they lost to Uruguay, West Germany, and Germany, and 1978, 1986, and 2022 when they won the title against the Netherlands, West Germany, and France respectively.

It is Argentina's fourth victory over England in 15 meetings (6 defeats, 5 draws), having eliminated them from the 1986 quarter-finals in Mexico when Maradona scored two 'historic' goals and from the 1998 round of 16 in France on penalties.

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Tense start and dramatic finish

Caption: Argument between England and Argentina players as referee Ismail Elfath prepares to show a yellow card to Elliott Anderson

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The start was tense between the players of both teams, with the first half seeing Argentina commit 12 fouls compared to 7 for England.

Chances were absent in the first half but increased in the second. The English took the lead, but Argentina did not surrender under Messi's leadership, who set up both final-clinching goals.

England's German coach, Thomas Tuchel, made three changes, including two in defense, bringing on Reece James and Jed Spence for Ezri Konsa and Nico O'Reilly, while Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers replaced Arsenal winger Noni Madueke.

For Argentina, coach Lionel Scaloni surprised by starting Giuliano Simeone instead of Rodrigo De Paul, a usual mainstay and Lionel Messi's teammate at Inter Miami.

The midfield saw a high numerical density that made it difficult to create attacks, the most notable of which were a cross from Chelsea defender James saved by Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (20th minute), a close-range header from John Stones from a wide free kick taken by Declan Rice (33rd minute), and a wide free kick from Rice that Martínez struggled to clear (36th minute).

In contrast, Argentina's only dangerous attempt in the first half was a powerful shot from outside the area by Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández that went just over the crossbar (39th minute).

Argentina almost opened the scoring early in the second half through Spanish Atletico Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, whose powerful close-range shot was saved by Jordan Pickford before the former Manchester City striker again shot, but the Everton goalkeeper again blocked it for a corner that came to nothing (48th minute).

Gordon succeeded in giving England the lead when he capitalized on a cross from Rogers, directing it with his right foot to the right of Martínez (55th minute).

It was Gordon's fourth goal in 25 international appearances—the first in the world cup—having recently moved to Spanish Barcelona from Newcastle.

Argentina threw everything forward in search of an equalizer, with Fernández firing a powerful long shot over the bar (61st minute), and Rice responding with a low shot saved by Martínez (66th minute).

Pickford saved his goal from a certain goal by clearing a close-range header from substitute Nicolás González, who replaced Leandro Paredes (69th minute).

The right post denied Alexis Mac Allister an equalizer, as he headed a cross from substitute De Paul from close range (76th minute), and a header from González from close range following a cross from Messi went just past Pickford's far left post (78th minute).

Pickford continued his brilliance, saving a powerful long shot from Fernández for a corner (85th minute), but the Chelsea midfielder succeeded on his fourth attempt, firing a powerful shot into the right of Pickford after a decisive assist from Messi (86th minute).

After a shot off the post from Mac Allister, the ball reached Messi, who crossed it for substitute and Inter Milan captain Martínez, who headed it from close range for a second Argentine goal (90+2 minute), sending Argentina to their final, Messi's third.

The Argentine legend won the man of the match award.

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