FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-finals: England vs Argentina Match Report – Messi Magic Fires Argentina Past England Into World Cup Final

Argentina showed their trademark grit and determination to get through to another World Cup final. Lionel Messi inspired yet another Argentina comeback as they struck two late goals to beat England 2-1 and reach the World Cup final.

The world champions will have the chance to defend their title against Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, with Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez getting the goals to overturn the lead Anthony Gordon had given England. Argentina have reached the FIFA World Cup final for the seventh time, the outright second most of any side after Germany, and have reached consecutive finals for the second time, previously doing so in 1986 and 1990.

Match Overview

First Half: A Cagey, Stop-Start Affair

The match was gritty in the early stages, with a stop-start first half-hour eventually resulting in John Stones heading just wide from a Declan Rice free-kick. At the other end, Fernández’s follow-up from a blocked Messi shot only just flew over the crossbar and had Jordan Pickford worried.

There were 19 fouls committed and 0 shots on target in the opening half; the most fouls without an attempt on target in any half of football at this World Cup. In fact, this was the first World Cup match on record (since 1966) not to see a single shot in the first 30 minutes. The combined expected goals (xG) between England and Argentina in the first half was just 0.08 – the lowest in the first half of a World Cup knockout-stage match.

Second Half: Gordon Strikes, But Argentina Respond

Argentina started the second half brightly, with Julián Alvarez getting the better of Djed Spence, but his near-post attempt was well blocked by Pickford before the striker’s second effort was deflected into the side netting. But it was England who got the opening goal with a lovely move that started deep. Lisandro Martínez acrobatically cleared, but only as far as Rice, who picked out Morgan Rogers to swing in a delightful cross that was swept home by Gordon in the 55th minute.\

Spence denied Giuliano Simeone a tight-angled attempt with a brilliant last-ditch tackle, while Pickford got down sharply to reflexively keep out Nico González’s glancing header as Argentina upped the pressure. Alexis Mac Allister threw himself on the end of Rodrigo De Paul’s peach of a cross, but thumped his header off the inside of the left post, before González nodded across the face of goal shortly after.

Lionel Scaloni turned to his bench on 72 minutes, introducing De Paul, Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolás Otamendi. Those changes pushed Argentina higher and wider, and the visitors took control. Fernández remained a threat, and moments after seeing another drive tipped over by Pickford, he bent a superb finish around the crowd and into the far side of the net after being picked out by Messi with five minutes left of normal time.

Seven minutes later, Martínez sent the Argentina fans into raptures. Mac Allister saw a low drive rebound off the right post this time, and Messi recycled it, lifting another wonderful cross into the box, and the Inter striker was unmarked to thump his header into the net to secure the victory. England threw on Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney late, but there was no way back through nine minutes of stoppage time.

Goal Summary

Key Match Statistics

The Story of the Second Half

Argentina dominated possession at 64% and finished with 590 passes to England’s 324. They produced 15 shots to 5, with 5 on target to 2. Three big chances went Argentina’s way compared to one for England. Touches in the penalty area read 28 to 7, a clear indicator of where the match was played.

Wide service and progression also leaned Argentina. They attempted 19 crosses to England’s 15 and completed 6, while England completed 3. Argentina’s dribble success stood at 12 out of 15, an 80% hit rate, against England’s 8 out of 19. In the final-third phase Argentina completed 198 of 230 actions at 86%, while England managed 60 of 92 at 65%. Corner kicks were 6 to 1, another territory marker.

England’s second half was a different picture. Argentina produced 13 shots after the break and won five corners in the same span. England’s four second-half shots included Gordon’s goal but little else inside the box. The visitors’ 313 accurate passes in the second half alone underline how the game shifted toward England’s area. Messi’s two late assists were the headline, but the platform came from a midfield that kept the ball moving and fullbacks who pushed high.

Player Spotlight: Messi Named Man of the Match

Lionel Messi was the difference when it mattered and earned Man of the Match honors. He finished with two assists, four key passes, and two big chances created. He attempted nine crosses with three accurate, constantly asking questions down the right half-space and from set positions. He completed 43 of 54 passes and touched the ball 94 times.

Beyond end product, the captain won 12 duels and carried the ball 36 times for a total of 256 meters. His expected assists number was 0.76, the highest in the match, which mirrors the quality of the chances he laid on. He also progressed play by 117 meters through carries, keeping Argentina on the front foot. He has now scored or assisted in 11 consecutive World Cup appearances, extending the longest-ever run by a player on record since 1966. Including his two assists here, Messi has 12 World Cup assists, 10 of which have come in the knockout rounds. No other player on record has more than eight in total.

Enzo Fernández posted a goal, four shots, and an excellent 82 of 84 passing. Lautaro Martínez scored the winner, needing only one shot. Leandro Paredes stitched midfield with 68 of 70 passes and two key passes, while Rodrigo De Paul made a sharp impact off the bench with 0.33 expected assists.

For England, Anthony Gordon scored his goal and has now been directly involved in six goals in his last seven games for England. Elliot Anderson covered ground effectively, winning 12 duels and completing 43 of 53 passes. Rogers added a key pass and the assist for Gordon’s opener. Jordan Pickford made three saves including two big stops, but the volume of entries and crosses finally told.

What It Means

Argentina advance to the World Cup 2026 final, carrying momentum and a performance profile built on control and chance creation. The reigning world champions leaned on their leaders and their depth. Having won their first World Cup semi-final in 1966, England have now been eliminated in each of their last three matches at this stage (1990, 2018, 2026). It was a heartbreaking end for England, who for the second time this century scored first in a World Cup semi-final but missed out on a place in the showpiece.

The 2026 final between Spain and Argentina will be the first ever FIFA World Cup final between the reigning UEFA European champions, and the reigning CONMEBOL Copa America champions.

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