Messi Creates Late Winner as Argentina Edges England 2-1 in World Cup Semifinal

An 87th-minute assist for Lautaro Martinez extended Lionel Messi’s direct goal involvement streak to 11 consecutive matches and sent the defending champions to a final against Spain.

Lionel Messi delivered the cross that Lautaro Martinez converted in the 87th minute to give Argentina a 2-1 victory over England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal on July 16. The late strike overturned an earlier deficit and secured a second consecutive final appearance for the defending champions, decided not by sustained dominance but by a singular moment of precision when the match had nearly exhausted its regulation time [4].

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