Lionel Messi had Argentina on the brink of elimination. Then, as he tends to do, he flipped the script.
Argentina edged England 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium to book their spot in the FIFA World Cup Final, and Messi was at the center of all of it. He played all 90 minutes and walked away with Man of the Match honors after creating both goals in a dramatic second-half comeback.
England looked like they were finally going to end 60 years of hurt. Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock early in the second half, and the Three Lions were minutes away from their first World Cup final since 1966. But Messi had other ideas.
Reuters - Brett Davis
He picked out Enzo Fernandez for the equalizer in the 85th minute and then delivered a stoppage-time cross that Lautaro Martinez headed home in the second minute of added time.
Josh Hart Reacts to Argentina's World Cup Comeback
The finish was the kind that stops people in their tracks, and New York Knicks guard Josh Hart was one of them. Hart kept it short on X, posting just two words after the final whistle, "Argentina = Knicks."
It did not seem like a random comparison. Hart just helped the Knicks win their first NBA title since 1973, stepping up when it mattered most.
He averaged nearly nine rebounds a night and delivered an 11-rebound 13-point performance in Game 5 of the Finals that sealed the championship. The late-game resilience Argentina showed against England had a familiar feel to it.
For Argentina, the win keeps their title defense very much alive. No country has successfully defended the World Cup since Brazil did it in 1962. Messi is also closing in on a remarkable personal milestone, set to become only the second player after Cafu to appear in three World Cup finals.
The 2026 tournament now comes down to one game. Argentina and Spain will meet at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday in the final of the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
