Argentina left it very late, but the biggest number from England vs Argentina was Lionel Messi's 2 assists. England were leading 1-0 until the 85th minute before Messi set up Enzo Fernández and then Lautaro Martínez to turn the semifinal into a 2-1 win. He also finished as the best-rated player on the pitch with an 8.6.

goal.com summed it up neatly: "After going behind to England in the 55th minute, Messi and co. stormed back with two late goals, earning a 2-1 win in Atlanta that sends Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final."

That scoreline had looked unlikely for most of the second half. England took the lead in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon finished after Morgan Rogers' cross, and for a long stretch they looked on course to protect it.

Messi's two assists decided it

Messi's night was a good reminder that he does not need a goal to own a game. His 8.6 rating was the highest on the pitch, and the match turned on the two moments when he found the right final ball.

The first arrived in the 85th minute. Fernández equalised from outside the area, the goal that changed the tone of the whole tie and wiped out England's lead just as the game was closing.

The second was even more brutal from England's point of view. In the 90+2 minute, Messi delivered the cross and Martínez converted the winner. Argentina scored twice in the window from 85 to 90+2, which is exactly how semifinals get stolen.

Sports Illustrated described the swing this way: "Argentina was losing five minutes from time, yet swiftly turned defeat into victory to reach the final."

There is a small wording gap across reports on the exact framing of the comeback, with some calling it a turnaround from five minutes out and others sticking closely to the 85th-minute equaliser and stoppage-time winner. The underlying point is the same: England were ahead deep into the second half, and Messi was central to both goals that followed.

England's control disappeared late

For most of the second half, England had the result they wanted. Gordon's opener gave them the lead, and the timing mattered because it forced Argentina to chase. England had enough of the game under control that the late collapse will sting.

That is where Messi's influence stands out more than any general possession argument. Two direct assists in a semifinal are a cleaner explanation than any vague talk about momentum. Fernández's finish in the 85th minute gave Jordan Pickford no chance from outside the area, and Martínez then finished the job in stoppage time.

From Argentina's side, the late surge will overshadow everything else. Fernández ended with an 8.2 rating and Martínez still made the decisive contribution with the winning header after coming off the bench. Emiliano Martínez did not need a headline save in the final minutes because the attack flipped the match for him.

The player ratings headline is obvious

When a player posts 2 assists in a 2-1 comeback win, the ratings debate is not especially complicated. Messi was the standout, not because of noise around his name, but because both decisive actions came from him and his 8.6 reflected that influence across the match.

England will look back at the 55th-minute opener from Gordon and wonder how a winning position lasted so little once Argentina found one clean opening. Argentina will look at the same stretch and see a semifinal won by two Messi passes, one Fernández strike and Martínez's finish in the 90+2 minute.

FAQ

Why did Lionel Messi stand out in Argentina's win over England if he did not score?

Messi finished with 2 assists, one for Enzo Fernández's 85th-minute equaliser and one for Lautaro Martínez's 90+2 winner. He was also the best-rated player on the pitch at 8.6, which fits the view that he controlled the semifinal even without scoring.

How did Argentina come back against England in the World Cup semifinal?

England led through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal after Morgan Rogers' cross. Argentina then scored twice late on, with Enzo Fernández equalising from outside the area in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez heading in the winner in stoppage time from Messi's cross.

Were England close to reaching the final before Argentina's late goals?

Yes. Some reports described Argentina as winning from five minutes out, while the confirmed scoring sequence shows England were still ahead until Fernández scored in the 85th minute. Martínez then completed the turnaround in the 90+2 minute.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 13 outlets. How we work →