Argentina beat England 2-1 after two late Lionel Messi assists

Argentina reached the World Cup final with a 2-1 win over England in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon gave England the lead after 55 minutes. Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute. Lautaro Martinez headed the winner in the second minute of added time.

Lionel Messi created both Argentina goals without scoring himself. He passed to Fernandez before the midfielder’s shot from outside the area. He later crossed with his right foot for Martinez. Argentina will face Spain in the final on Sunday.

A tense first half produced no shot on target

The semifinal began with little open space. England stayed close to Messi and protected the centre. Argentina also kept enough players behind the ball to control England’s pace. Neither side managed a shot on target before the interval.

The first half contained 19 fouls and several breaks in play. That stopped either team from building a long attacking rhythm. The score remained 0-0 because both defensive plans worked. The match changed only after England moved forward quickly in the second half.

England struck first through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute. The lead lasted until the closing stage, when Argentina increased the pressure around the box. Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute. Substitute Lautaro Martinez then scored with a header in the second minute of added time. Both goals came from Lionel Messi assists.

Gordon put England ahead

England scored in the 55th minute. Morgan Rogers delivered a low cross across the goalmouth. Gordon arrived from the left and finished with his right foot. Emiliano Martinez had little time to react from close range.

The goal rewarded a direct move rather than long possession. Gordon attacked the far side as Rogers carried the ball into space. England then held the lead for half an hour. Argentina increased pressure as the final minutes approached.

The order of those moments matters. Argentina were behind for half an hour after Gordon’s goal. The equaliser raised the possibility of extra time, while the second goal removed it moments later. England had almost no time to build another attack after Martinez made it 2-1.

The substitutions changed the match

England replaced Gordon with defender Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute. Declan Rice and Reece James also left ten minutes later. The changes added defensive players but removed speed and control from England’s exits. Argentina spent longer near the penalty area.

Lionel Scaloni made the opposite choice. Lautaro Martinez replaced Nicolas Tagliafico in the 81st minute. Argentina accepted more risk and added another forward. The move placed Martinez between England’s central defenders for the final attacks.

Spain secured the other final place through Spain’s semifinal victory over France.

Messi did not score, but his two final passes decided the semifinal. An assist does not describe every part of a performance, yet these two were attached directly to the goals that reversed the result. Fernandez still had to beat Pickford from distance, and Martinez had to direct the cross with his head.

Fernandez levelled from distance

Messi received the ball near the right side of the area after 85 minutes. He moved inward and found Fernandez outside the box. The midfielder struck with his right foot. The shot bent beyond Jordan Pickford and into the upper corner.

The equaliser came after England had defended deeper for a long period. Messi had more touches near the box than earlier in the match. Fernandez used the space outside the defensive line. Argentina then continued attacking instead of waiting for extra time.

Argentina now meet Spain in the final after Spain beat France in the other semifinal. That match is a separate event with a new tactical and physical context. England leave after coming close to protecting a one-goal lead. The confirmed semifinal record remains 2-1, with all three goals arriving after half-time.

Martinez completed the comeback

The winning goal arrived in the 92nd minute. Messi crossed from the right with his weaker foot. Martinez moved across the defenders and met the ball with his head. His finish gave Argentina the lead for the first time.

Martinez had entered only 11 minutes earlier. He did not require many touches to affect the result. His movement created a target inside the six-yard area. Messi’s delivery reached him before England could clear the danger.

The final will be played on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina are trying to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain the men’s World Cup. That historical target gives the match weight, but it gives no sporting advantage at kick-off. Spain enter with their own unbeaten route to the final.

Argentina advance to face Spain

Argentina now prepare for a second consecutive World Cup final. Spain won the other semifinal and await them on Sunday. The defending champions reached the match through another comeback. Their two goals arrived within seven minutes.

England will play France in the third-place match on Saturday. Their review begins with the final period, when possession and territory moved heavily toward Argentina. The confirmed result is clear: Gordon scored first, but Fernandez and Martinez sent Argentina through.