FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi celebrates Argentina's SF win, says 'we dug deep to put in another great performance'
Atlanta, July 16
Argentina captain Lionel Messi shared his joy on social media after his team completed a dramatic comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal in Atlanta on Wednesday.
In a post on Instagram, Messi celebrated Argentina's qualification for the World Cup final, praising the team's resilience and performance while thanking supporters for their continued belief in the squad.
He said, "WE'RE IN THE FINAL!!!!! We dug deep once again to put in another great performance. A huge thank you to everyone who believed in this group!!! Let's go Argentina!!!!"
The result sent Argentina into the World Cup 2026 final, where they will face Spain on Sunday, July 19 (local time), while England's hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 came to a heartbreaking end.
In the match, the defending champions produced a stunning late comeback. The first half was a tightly contested battle, with both teams fighting for midfield control and creating limited clear chances. England eventually broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon finished Morgan Rogers' cross to put the Three Lions ahead.
After taking the lead, England dropped deeper defensively, allowing Argentina to build pressure. The defending champions responded strongly, with Jordan Pickford making key saves and Alexis Mac Allister hitting the post before Argentina found the equaliser. In the 85th minute, Enzo Fernandez struck after receiving a pass from Lionel Messi to level the match.
Argentina completed their comeback in stoppage time when Messi delivered a cross for Lautaro Martinez, who headed home the winner. Despite England's late efforts, Argentina held on to reach the final. England will now face France in the third-place match, while Argentina will meet Spain for the title.
— ANI
Reader Comments
England were so close! They played really well for 80 minutes but couldn't hold off the pressure. That said, Argentina showed true champion mentality. Sucks for England fans though - they've been waiting since 1966 for a final.
Argentina's comeback was pure magic! Enzo Fernandez scoring the equalizer and then Martinez with the winner - it's like watching a Bollywood movie script. Messi's leadership is something else. India should learn from such never-give-up attitude in our sports too! 🔥👏
While I'm happy for Argentina, I can't help but feel England's defensive approach after taking the lead cost them. You can't sit back against a team like Argentina, especially with Messi on the field. That said, brilliant performance from both sides!
Messi's Instagram post says it all - "WE'RE IN THE FINAL!!!!!" The passion is real. As a football fan, it's amazing to see this rivalry. Argentina vs Spain final should be epic! Hoping for a great match on Sunday.
Honestly, England deserved more credit - they pushed the champions to the limit. Gordon's goal was world-class. But Argentina's experience showed in the end. Messi may be getting older, but his vision for those late crosses is unmatched. Final should be thrilling! 🌟
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.