Read for 2 minutes16 Jul 2026 08:44 AM IST
Lionel Messi managed to freeze time and his opponents as he led Argentina to a stunning 2-1 comeback win over England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Messi scored another 55th-minute goal for the Three Lions in their first World Cup in 24 years to put the Three Lions behind 0-1 in the 85th minute to secure another knockout victory for the world champions.
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Messi soon found his preferred position on the right wing as manager Lionel Scaloni’s decisive tactical change conspired to defeat England. Messi, 39, provided the match-turning pass to Enzo Fernandes, who equalized from outside the box and beat England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with a power and turning angle to the left of the goal. Messi’s curling cross in stoppage time then met substitute Lautaro Martinez’s fiery header.
Messi and Argentina entered their World Cup final together, breaking a pile of records along the way.
Take a look at all the records Messi broke in the Argentina vs England World Cup semi-final
- 01
helps the king
With the two assists, Messi extended his all-time World Cup record for most assists in the tournament to 12 in six editions, 10 of which have come in the knockout stages.
According to Opta, no other player in the last 60 years has had more than eight assists in his World Cup career.
- 02
The dribbling goat
Messi completed nine dribbles in his first meeting against England at senior level. According to Opta, this is the joint-most dribbles he has completed in an international match. Messi became the first player to record nine dribbles and two assists in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
- 9 against England in 2026
- 9 vs Iceland in 2018
- 9 vs Germany in 2010
- 03
G/A streak
Messi has now scored or assisted in 13 consecutive games for club and country, making it the second longest streak of his entire professional career. He previously enjoyed a 14-game streak that ended in 2011.
- 04
World Cup finals record
Messi is set to take the pitch in his third World Cup final after 2014 and 2022. He will become the second player in history to play in three World Cup finals after Brazil’s Cafu (1994, ’98, ’02).
Argentina became the first team to score five goals from outside the box during a World Cup campaign, with Messi (twice), Giovanni Lo Celso, Julián Alvarez and Enzo Fernández recording the joint-most since the 1966 edition.
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Argentina have a chance to defend their crown for the first time in 64 years since Brazil in 1962 when they face Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday night. Meanwhile, England will face France in the third-place playoff at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.