When Lionel Messi was pushed onto his weaker foot by Nico O'Reilly and Djed Spence on the right side of the box in the 92nd minute of stoppage time, England fans held their breath in unison. The Three Lions had four of their tallest players hovering around the six-yard area, and the Argentina captain needed a perfect delivery to reach Lautaro Martinez at the back post (his only realistic target) - but as we all know, Messi can conjure up perfection at any moment.
Sure enough, his cross landed right on Martinez's forehead and the ball crashed into the back of Jordan Pickford's net, giving Argentina a 2-1 comeback victory and a deserved place in the 2026 World Cup final. The majority of Argentina players and coaching staff members then ran over to mob Messi rather than Martinez, which served as more proof of the God-like status he still commands at the age of 39, and a just reward for single-handedly dragging his country over the line again.
Messi absolutely terrorised England in the final 30 minutes. Yes, Thomas Tuchel's cowardly tactics played into his hands, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner exploited them ruthlessly. A ninth Golden Ball might yet follow later this year, given he has been the most influential player in this summer's mammoth expanded tournament.
Another majestic display in the final, against Spain and his supposed Barcelona heir Lamine Yamal, would all but guarantee it. Argentina head into that showpiece as underdogs, but make no mistake: they will hold onto the beautiful gold trophy if Spain give them even the smallest inch, emboldened by an unshakable collective self-belief and Messi’s insatiable hunger for victory.
Unmatched grit
Prior to Wednesday’s semi-final tie, Argentina hadn’t really impressed in North America. They romped through a very favourable group, but only scraped past Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland in the earlier knockout rounds, needing extra time to prevail on two occasions.
At Qatar 2022, they were a more well-rounded team. Nine members of that triumphant squad did not travel for the 2026 edition, including, most crucially, the recently retired Angel Di Maria, Messi's long-time right-hand man.
Argentina have sorely lacked proper width without Di Maria, and the narrow midfield has left huge gaps for the lesser nations to bomb into on the break. But no team can match their sheer grit. Argentina never know when they’re beaten, and tend to hit their maximum level when under the most pressure.
They can also rely on Messi as the coolest head on the pitch. He sets a shining example by always demanding the ball and pushing them forward, relishing the heat of battle with every ounce of his being. Lionel Scaloni’s men feed on Messi’s aura to get over the line, transforming into ravenous animals who refuse to relent until they claim the spoils.
The ultimate risk-taker
Messi’s enduring quality and humility almost defy logic. While his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s painful decline can be summed up by the iconic “Victory has defeated you” line uttered by Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, Messi never buys into his own hype.
The most decorated footballer of all time just takes each game as it comes, and his ability to adapt is unrivalled. The Inter Miami star has spent more time walking at this tournament than any other player, while frequently looking like a mere mortal, including in a frustrating first half against England, but he always has another gear.
More often than not, too, Messi’s execution in the final third is flawless. Indeed, he bagged two assists and completed nine dribbles in the England tie - a feat never before seen in a World Cup knockout match. He currently sits top of the Golden Boot charts with eight goals, and has set up another four - just one less than assists leader Michael Olise.
It's fair to say he's already done enough to win the third World Cup Golden Ball of his career as player of the tournament. Even more important than the statistics, though, is the fact that there is tremendous purpose in every action Messi takes. In positions where most players would opt for a bog-standard pass sideways or backwards, he’s programmed to go for an incisive one, or embark on a mesmerising slalom run.
Messi is the ultimate risk-taker, and even with 20-plus years of otherworldly brilliance to dissect, opponents are still powerless to stop him in full flow.
'I just want to enjoy myself'
The common consensus is that Messi's longevity is down to his natural talent, which is certainly a factor, but his willingness to graft and persevere in adversity are often overlooked. For so long he refused to confirm whether he'd even participate in his sixth World Cup, insisting he would only make himself available to Scaloni if he was certain he could still contribute at the highest level. Over the last five weeks, Messi has proven that beyond all reasonable doubt, and is now revelling in the fruits of his labour.
"I've been preparing and training for a year now, and I knew I was going to give it my all to be in the best possible shape," he said after the England win. "Right now I just want to enjoy myself. I'm not talking about my last World Cup, or anything like that. This team always gives its all and owes nothing to anyone.
"This team never stops trying; we went out to win it with our football and determination, and we're in another World Cup final. We pinned them [England] back in their own half and showed we could win it in regulation, without going to extra time. We had the composure and character to come from behind. To be honest, we really enjoyed it."
In Qatar, Messi was like a man possessed as he chased the only piece of silverware that had eluded him. It was very serious business, with fun in short supply. The intensity to his play remains this time around, but with that heavy monkey off his back, Messi has appeared more relaxed and joyful.
Remarkably, he's also shown very little signs of tiredness, with England falling victim to the most energetic version of Messi we've seen so far this summer. He’s played 420 minutes across the knockout stages, and yet it feels like he is peaking in time for the final. Spain won’t strike any fear into Messi, either.
"It's a team I know well; they have a footballing philosophy and have been playing this way for many, many years," he added. "I know the players - I've played against them, I follow them - and several of them are at Barca, the team I love and follow. It's a special match, a World Cup final. I imagine it's going to be an even contest."
