Two late assists from Lionel Messi inspire Argentina to a dramatic victory over England and set up a World Cup final clash with Spain.

Argentina produced a breathtaking late comeback to defeat England in Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal, with captain Lionel Messi once again proving to be the driving force behind the defending champions’ success.

For much of the match, England looked on course to secure a place in the final after maintaining their lead deep into the second half. However, Argentina refused to surrender, and Messi delivered two moments of brilliance when his team needed them most.

In the 85th minute, the Argentine superstar unlocked England’s defense with a perfectly weighted pass that found Enzo Fernández, who calmly slotted home the equalizer to ignite Argentina’s comeback.

With the match heading into stoppage time, Messi produced another decisive contribution. His pinpoint cross into the penalty area was met by Lautaro Martínez, whose powerful header beat England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 93rd minute, completing a dramatic turnaround.

The victory sends Argentina into Sunday’s World Cup final, where they will face Spain in a blockbuster showdown as they pursue consecutive World Cup titles.

Messi’s outstanding performance once again highlighted his influence on the international stage. The veteran playmaker orchestrated Argentina’s attack throughout the contest and delivered when it mattered most, creating both goals that secured his nation’s place in the championship match.

England, meanwhile, endured a heartbreaking exit after controlling large portions of the semifinal but failing to contain Argentina’s late surge. Despite a disciplined defensive display for most of the game, the Three Lions were ultimately undone by Messi’s creativity and composure in the closing minutes.

With confidence soaring after another memorable comeback, Argentina will now turn their attention to Sunday’s final against Spain, hoping to lift the World Cup trophy once again and cement another remarkable chapter in the nation’s football history.