If you’ve watched Argentina play at the 2026 World Cup, you’ve noticed a pattern. They look ordinary for 80 minutes, then Messi touches the ball and something impossible happens.
On July 15, Argentina did it again. Trailing England 1-0 in the World Cup semifinal in Atlanta, Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute. Then Lautaro Martínez scored in stoppage time. Both goals were assisted by Lionel Messi, who, at 39, is apparently still doing this for fun.
The match that moved markets
Argentina advances to its second consecutive World Cup final, where they’ll face Spain as defending champions. The last team to win back-to-back World Cups was Brazil, in 1958 and 1962.
Messi didn’t score. He didn’t need to. Two assists in the final five minutes of a World Cup semifinal is the sort of performance that reminds you why the debate exists in the first place.
