Lionel Messi had already won the World Cup in Qatar 2022, but the Argentina captain wrote a new chapter in his amazing career on Wednesday, after leading his country to a thrilling victory over England in the semifinals of the North American World Cup.

The defending champions struggled to reach the tournament's final showdown, trailing until the 85th minute after a goal by English striker Anthony Gordon, before Messi wove his magic.

The all-time World Cup top scorer did not find the net this time, but he set up the equalizer scored by Enzo Fernandez, then delivered a cross for Lautaro Martinez to head home and seal a 2-1 win for Argentina.

Messi, 39, said after facing England for the first time in his career: 'These are special emotions. I think the members of the team felt it, and this was a match that the Argentine people desperately wanted to win, as did we.'

He added: 'This encounter remains special.'

Messi did not manage to replicate the feat of Argentina legend Diego Maradona, who scored two iconic goals in the win over England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal.

But the Inter Miami star set up two goals and followed in the footsteps of his legendary predecessor when he led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

After the Albiceleste maintained their incredible record of never losing a World Cup semifinal match in history, Messi will contest his second consecutive final and the third of his international career.

The South American side aims to become the first team to retain the world title since Brazil in 1962.

Messi is the only player to have featured in the final Argentina lost to Germany in 2014, and he will become just the second player, after Brazil's Cafu, to play in three finals of the competition.

Messi said: 'It's amazing to play two finals in a row.'

Argentina had earlier staged a stunning comeback against Egypt to advance past the round of 16 (3-2) at the same stadium in Atlanta.

They smelled an early exit after England retreated and dropped deep defensively after taking the lead.

Messi, who has played a record 33 matches in six different World Cup editions, said: 'We managed to come back when the match went against our hopes. We never stopped believing in ourselves.'

For long stretches of Wednesday's match, Messi's influence was limited, but he showed his ability to lead his team to victory.

England captain Harry Kane said: 'I felt we managed to contain Messi for long periods of the match, but he belongs to the most dangerous type of players in the world, capable of making a difference in the final third.'

He added: 'He did it again. That's what makes him one of the greatest of all time.'

Many consider Messi the greatest footballer ever, and the debate may end if Argentina successfully defend their world title in Sunday's final against Spain.

Pele and Maradona only played in two World Cup finals, while Maradona won the title only once.

Messi is also the all-time World Cup top scorer with 21 goals, although France's Kylian Mbappe is just one goal behind and will face England on Saturday in the third-place play-off.

The former Barcelona star could have retired from international football content after the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina beat France in the final, but the legendary player appears to have conserved his energy for the World Cup in recent years, after moving away from the high tempo of European football and adapting to the American scene with Inter Miami.

While Cristiano Ronaldo's continued presence with Portugal is seen as a potential hindrance to the team, Messi has maintained the same influence with the national team as always.

England's German coach Thomas Tuchel said: 'He is a leader, the main player in any team he plays for.'

The Argentina captain will get his chance to play against Spain in an official match for the first time, as the identity of the opponent makes the encounter unique.

Messi moved to the city of Barcelona with his family at the age of 13, settling there for two decades before leaving in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi holds a Spanish passport and may one day settle again in Castelldefels, on the coast near Barcelona.

But before he thinks about that, his eyes are now set on crushing Spain's dreams.