Lionel Messi delivered the signature moment of his final World Cup chapter on Wednesday, setting up two goals in the final five minutes to lift defending champion Argentina past England 2-1 in a bruising semifinal at Atlanta Stadium.
The comeback sends Argentina into Sunday’s final, where it will attempt to become the first nation in 70 years to defend the World Cup title, while England is left to process its most painful near-miss in a generation.
England took the lead in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon converted a low cross, and the Three Lions appeared set to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 as the clock wound down.
But Argentina’s relentless pressure paid off as Enzo Fernandez levelled the score in the 85th minute after a string of earlier chances, and four minutes later Messi’s cross found Lautaro Martinez, who headed home the winner to send the Argentine fans into Joy.
Messi, now 39 and playing what is widely presumed to be his last World Cup, is on eight goals and four assists going into the final against Spain, who has conceded only one goal since the start of the tournament.
