Argentina has secured a spot in the FIFA World Cup final after a hard-fought 2-1 victory against England in the semifinal held in Atlanta. The win sets up a championship clash against Spain, scheduled to take place in New York on Sunday, July 19. Speaking to journalists after the match, Lionel Messi expressed his admiration for the resilience of his squad, noting that the team has consistently proven its quality over the past four years.
Reflecting on the group's journey, the 39-year-old captain remarked, "It’s crazy what this group has been doing: five finals. We’re coming off winning the World Cup, we’ve been the best team over the last four years, and today we’re among the two best teams in the world, another final. No matter how much it hurts or what people say, this group keeps proving that nobody gives you anything on the pitch." Since 2021, Argentina has enjoyed a dominant run, securing titles in the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima and FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa America.
Entering the tournament as the world's top-ranked team, Argentina faced a tough test against England. Despite falling behind early, the team mounted a comeback in the second half. Messi played a pivotal role in the victory, providing the assist for Enzo Fernandez to score the equalizer in the 85th minute. Seven minutes later, Messi delivered a precise cross that allowed Lautaro Martinez to head home the winning goal in stoppage time.
While Messi did not add to his tally of eight goals, his two assists in the match brought his tournament total to four. This achievement allowed him to move ahead of Kylian Mbappe—who has eight goals and three assists—in the race for the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot.
With his side trailing 1-0, the Inter Miami man set up Enzo Fernandez to curl home the equaliser in the 85th minute.
