A 92nd-minute header from substitute Lautaro Martinez, powered home from Lionel Messi’s inch-perfect cross, sent Argentina into the World Cup final and broke English hearts once again. The semi-final at Atlanta Stadium had seemed to be slipping away from the South Americans when Anthony Gordon fired England ahead in the 52nd minute.
Then Messi, the 39-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, took control. With five minutes of normal time remaining, he sliced open the England defence with a precise pass for Enzo Fernandez to equalise. And deep into stoppage time, with extra time looming, he delivered the cross that Martinez nodded home to complete the comeback.
“Lautaro Martinez's 92nd-minute header from Messi's cross sends Argentina past England into World Cup final.”
It was the fifth time in this tournament that Messi was named Player of the Match, and his record now stands at eight goals and four assists in seven appearances – a tally that leaves him leading the race for the Golden Boot.
Before he stole the show, however, Messi was involved in an altercation with England midfielder Jude Bellingham. After referee Ismail Elfath awarded a foul, Bellingham confronted Messi, exchanging words. Thierry Henry, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona, believed that moment turned the game. “Don’t wake up the beast,” Henry said on Fox Sports. “I’ve seen him in training … when the coach doesn’t call a foul … you look in his eyes and he switches. He goes and gets the ball and scores three goals in a row by robbing the ball off you.”
Henry was left stunned by Messi’s performance, describing it as “unstoppable”. “He reminded us he is human; he missed some penalties, four out of eight,” Henry said. “Then he reminds us again he’s not human. … When his team needs him, he raises his game.”
Argentina now face Spain in Sunday’s final – a third World Cup final for Messi. Henry compared the narrative to a movie. “This is Hollywood stuff,” he added. “This guy writes history with his feet, though, not with his hands.”
