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Argentina, never say die.
Once again, the Argentines came from behind, this time against England, to win 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final and keep their dream of repeating as champions alive. Argentina were kept off the scoreboard for 85 minutes and finally broke through when Lionel Messi set up Enzo Fernandez just outside the penalty area and the 25-year-old curled a shot around England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into the back of the net for 1-1.
Lautaro Martinez then played the hero as he came off the bench and into Argentine football history by scoring the winning goal in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Messi recorded his second assist after he collected a loose ball and played a beautiful pass into the penalty area where Martinez was waiting unmarked. Martinez headed the ball past Pickford to send the Argentine fans into a frenzy as they completed the comeback.
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Lautaro Martinez of Argentina scores his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Alex Livesey/Danehouse/Getty Images)
England tried to equalize with stoppage time remaining but they were unable to muster a quality chance.
The first half was largely uneventful as it was the first game since 1966 that neither team registered a shot in the first half, according to the FOX broadcast.
Anthony Gordon got the scoring started when he buried a cross from Morgan Rogers to put England on the board first in the 55th minute with an acrobatic finish. Harry Kane sparked the counterattack with a long pass that for the first time all game left the Argentine defense at ease.
However, it would end up being the only true scoring opportunity of the match for the Three Lions. After England got on the board, Argentina’s pressure was relentless, but England were able to fend off the Argentine attack for around 30 minutes.
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Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez scores past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)
England defender Djed Spence made a stunning tackle in the 58th minute to help keep Argentina off the board following a break from Giuliano Simeone.
Argentina goalkeeper Emilio Martinez came up big in the 66th minute by making his first save of the game on Declan Rice to keep it 1-0 and avoid putting Argentina in a multi-goal hole. After the save, Argentina quickly countered and went back on the attack.
Pickford, England’s all-time leader in matches played at the World Cup, made a remarkable goal-line save from a header from Nicolás González just before the hydration break to preserve England’s 1-0 lead.
Alexis Mac Allister kept the pressure on for Argentina as his header in the 76th minute rang off the post. Pickford made his fourth save of the game when he cut out Fernandez’s shot in the 86th minute, but the Argentine broke through later in the minute.
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Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez reacts after Argentina’s victory over England in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Jacob Kupferman/AP)
After a corner, Messi set up Fernandez just outside the box and the 25-year-old chipped a shot around Pickford into the net.
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With the win, Argentina have the opportunity to become the first back-to-back World Cup winners since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962.
They face Spain in the final on Sunday at 15 ET on FOX.
