Fans on social media have waxed lyrical about Argentina icon Lionel Messi after his outstanding performance in their 2-1 comeback win over England in the FIFA World Cup. The two nations locked horns in the World Cup semi-finals at the Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, July 15.
Both sides struggled to create many chances in the first half. However, their FIFA World Cup contest came to life after the break when Anthony Gordon finished well past Emi Martinez to break the deadlock for England (55′). However, Thomas Tuchel and Co. opted to sit back and defend to hold their lead, allowing Argentina to get back into the game.
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La Albiceleste dominated possession for the remainder of the half, going close to leveling the scores after Alexis Mac Allister’s header struck the woodwork. Enzo Fernandez then made it 1-1 in the 85th minute after finding the bottom-left corner with a sensational effort from 25 yards out. Lionel Messi then provided a brilliant cross seven minutes later, which Lautaro Martinez headed in to make it 2-1, ensuring his side progressed to the FIFA World Cup final.
Lionel Messi was the architect of Argentina’s comeback win, providing two assists and creating the most chances in the game (four). The 39-year-old also had the most touches in the opposition box (seven), completed the most dribbles (nine), and won 12 duels.
One fan was left in awe by Messi’s performance, posting on X:
“You can’t lock Messi down. He’s not Ronaldo, Mbappe, or Haaland, he doesn’t need just goals to make an impact.”
Another fan tweeted:
“I’ve never seen a f***ing carry this much in my life. Messi is the greatest athlete of all time. Playing with SCRUBS and he pulled this off”
Other fans reacted below:
Lionel Messi has excelled at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, recording eight goals and four assists in seven games.
How did Lionel Messi-led Argentina fare against England in FIFA World Cup S/F clash?
Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a 2-1 comeback win over England in their FIFA World Cup semi-final fixture, ensuring he reached the final for the third time in his career. La Albiceleste will next face Spain on Sunday, July 19.
Lionel Scaloni’s side dominated possession with 64 percent of the ball, stepping up a gear after they found themselves trailing. They also completed 313 passes with an accuracy of 92 percent, compared to England’s 95 passes with an accuracy of 75 percent.
Argentina also dominated going forward, landing 13 shots in total, with five being on target. They hit the woodwork twice, recording an xG of 1.81. Meanwhile, England managed four shots in total, with two being on target (xG of 0.48).
Disclaimer: The above stats were taken from FotMob on July 16 at 3 AM IST. They are subject to change.
Edited by Silas Sud
