Argentina Defeats England 2-1 to Advance to the World Cup Final

Lionel Messi was the standout player on the pitch in the dramatic 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory against England. Even without scoring; he prepared the equalizer in the 85th minute and assisted the subsequent winning goal, carrying his team to their second consecutive final. After the match, Messi, who broke records, once again proved that he is one of the most statistical players of the tournament with his performance.

Although England took the lead with a goal from Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute, head coach Thomas Tuchel's decision to drop back defensively led to the team's collapse. Tuchel bringing on defender Ezri Konsa instead of attacking player Gordon in the 71st minute increased Argentina's pressure even more. Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni's tactical moves and shifting Messi to the right wing were the key to the team's late comeback.

After the match, Argentine players unveiling a banner, which supporters stated they provided, reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina) caused international controversy. This situation caused FIFA to investigate whether they violated tournament rules banning political messages. Additionally, police detained many fans in clashes that broke out between the two countries' supporters outside Atlanta Stadium.