For about 80 minutes on Sunday, it looked like Argentina was heading home. England had them pinned. A talented English side led 1-0 deep into regulation, and Lionel Messi had been quiet by his standards. But then he did what he’s always done—changed the game in a flash.
Messi found two assists in the final stretch of regulation, flipping the script and giving Argentina a 2-1 win. That victory punched their ticket to the World Cup final, where they’ll face a red-hot Spain team on Sunday in New Jersey.
He’s been the guy for goals. This time it was the passing.
Messi came into this game tied for the Golden Boot lead with eight goals. But on Wednesday, with Argentina on the brink, he went full playmaker. And in the process, he tied some pretty heavy company.
His four career assists in World Cup knockout matches are now tied with Pele and Antoine Griezmann for the most in the last 60 years, according to ESPN. Not bad company for an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, but Messi probably wasn’t thinking about history when he got the ball near the box in the 82nd minute.
Three England defenders collapsed on him right outside the box on the right side. They were so worried about Messi shooting or dribbling through them that they left Enzo Fernandez wide open at the top of the box. Messi slid the ball to him, and the Chelsea midfielder buried it inside the left post. Tie game, 1-1.
Then he did something even better.
The second assist was a thing of beauty
With England clearly rattled and playing on their heels, Messi pushed deep down the right flank. He fired a cross with his right foot—his weaker foot—and somehow lifted it just over the head of an English defender. Lautaro Martinez was there to nod it past Jordan Pickford for the winner. That’s the kind of precision that looks routine for Messi but is anything but.
England had no answer. Argentina had life.
Now comes the hard part: Spain
Argentina’s reward for that comeback is a date with Spain on Sunday. And Spain has been a machine all tournament. They love to dominate possession. They’ve conceded exactly one goal in the entire World Cup. One.
Argentina have been the more inconsistent side throughout. They’ve had shaky moments and stretches where nothing clicks. But Messi has this way of creating goals out of thin air when it matters most. That ability alone makes Argentina dangerous, even as the underdog.
One moment of magic from Messi. That’s all it might take.
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