Argentina pulled off another late-game miracle Wednesday night, scoring twice in the final minutes to beat England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal at Atlanta Stadium, sending Lionel Messi and his team back to the World Cup final for a shot at back-to-back titles.
England took the lead in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon tapped home a cross from Morgan Rogers, and the Three Lions spent the next half hour defending the advantage. But Argentina's persistence paid off in the 85th minute, when Enzo Fernández curled a left-footed strike from outside the box past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford off an assist from Messi, tying the match 1-1. Moments later in stoppage time, Messi set up Lautaro Martínez for a header that sealed the 2-1 win.
For Fernández, the equalizer carried a personal and spiritual weight. Speaking afterward, he referenced a letter he wrote to Messi as a 15-year-old fan, pleading with his idol not to retire from the national team after Argentina's third straight final loss in the mid-2010s. "I wrote that letter when I was very young - I dreamed of these moments, wondering if I'd ever get to play with him," Fernández said in Spanish. "And today, God gives me this moment to play with him, to play another final with him."
He carried that same spirit onto Instagram shortly after the final whistle, posting from Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the caption "All the glory to God," followed by a message to his countrymen thanking them for the support and declaring the team is headed to "another final" together. The Chelsea midfielder, who has been open about his Catholic faith throughout the tournament, has made a habit of pointing to God in his celebrations all summer, including a similar post giving God the glory after Argentina's quarterfinal win.
Argentina will face Spain in Sunday's World Cup final, chasing a fourth title and a rare repeat championship not seen by any nation in more than 60 years. England, meanwhile, moves on to Saturday's third-place match against France.
