Trailing 1-0 going into the 85th minute after Anthony Gordon scored the opening goal in the 55th minute, Argentina rallied for a 2-1 victory over England on Wednesday with goals from Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez. Martinez said he dreamed it and told Alexis Mac Allister that he was going to score and come on and win it. Messi fed the ball to Fernandez to sweep in the equalizer from outside the box in the 85th minute. Two minutes into stoppage time, Messi sent in a cross for Martinez to head in the winner. At the final whistle, Messi fell to his knees in celebration while England players collapsed in disbelief. The defending champions will take on European champion Spain in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
England goalkeeper Jordon Pickford made vital saves while Mac Allister sent a header off the post as wave after wave of Argentina attacks came. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the team showed the collectiveness, the brotherhood, and the fight to the very end. England came up short in the World Cup semifinals for the third time after losses to Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018. England captain Harry Kane said he was gutted for the team, the staff, and the fans. Messi, now 39 and likely playing at his last World Cup, is one win away from further strengthening his case to be considered the greatest soccer player of all time.