NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
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 the dream of repeating their championship title alive. Argentina were kept off the scoresheet for 85 minutes, and finally broke through when Lionel Messi set up Enzo Fernandez just outside the penalty area, and the 25-year-old hooked a shot around England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into the back of the net to equalize at 1-1.
Lautaro Martinez then played the hero by coming off the bench and making Argentine football history by scoring the winner in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Messi recorded his second assist after collecting a loose ball and making a beautiful pass into the penalty area, where Martinez was waiting unmarked. Martinez headed the ball past Pickford to send the Argentina fans into a frenzy as they completed the comeback.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Lautaro Martinez of Argentina scores his team’s second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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 injury time remaining but failed to muster a quality chance.
The first half was uneventful, as it was the first game since 1966 in which neither team recorded a shot in the first half, according to the FOX broadcast.
Anthony Gordon started the scoring when he buried a Morgan Rogers cross to put England first on the board in the 55th minute with an acrobatic finish. Harry Kane sparked the counter with a long pass that left the Argentina defense baffled for the first time in the match.
However, this would end up being the only real scoring opportunity of the match for the Three Lions. After England got on the board, Argentina’s pressure was relentless, but England managed to hold off the Argentine attack for around 30 minutes.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez beats 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 fantastic tackle in the 58th minute to help keep Argentina out of the picture after a Giuliano Simeone breakaway.
Argentina goalkeeper Emilio Martinez caused a sensation in the 66th minute when he made his first save of the match on Declan Rice to keep the score at 1-0 and avoid putting Argentina in a multi-goal hole. After the stoppage, Argentina quickly fought back and returned to the attack.
Pickford, England’s all-time leader in matches played at the World Cup, made a remarkable goal-line save with 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 when his 76th-minute header rang off the post. Pickford made his fourth save of the match when he pushed away Fernandez’s shot in the 86th minute, but the Argentine broke through later in the minute.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez reacts after Argentina’s victory against England in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, Wednesday July 15, 2026. (Jacob Kupferman/AP)
From a corner, Messi set up Fernandez just outside the box, and the 25-year-old fired a shot around Pickford into the back of the net.
SUBSCRIBE TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS
With this victory, Argentina has the opportunity to become the first consecutive World Cup winners since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
They will face Spain in the final on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.
