Lionel Messi set two historic FIFA World Cup records as Argentina came from behind to defeat England 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup semi-final and book a place in the final against Spain.
According to a report by Daily Post Nigeria on July 16, 2026, the Argentina captain played a pivotal role in the defending champions’ comeback, providing assists for both goals after England had taken the lead.
England looked on course for a memorable victory when Anthony Gordon scored in the 55th minute from a Morgan Rogers assist. However, Argentina responded late in the contest, with Enzo Fernandez equalising in the 85th minute after being set up by Messi.
Messi then delivered another decisive pass in stoppage time, finding Lautaro Martinez, who headed home the winning goal to send Argentina into another World Cup final.
Beyond the victory, Messi’s performance secured two remarkable milestones. According to OptaJoe, the 39-year-old completed nine successful dribbles and recorded two assists against England, becoming the first player on record since 1966 to achieve both feats in a single FIFA World Cup knockout match.
Messi also became the player with the most World Cup assists in the modern record era. He now has 12 assists in World Cup matches, including 10 in knockout-stage fixtures.
No player since 1966 has registered more than eight World Cup assists, underlining Messi’s enduring impact on football’s biggest stage as Argentina advanced to another World Cup final.
