Messi Makes History as Argentina Advances to FIFA World Cup Final

New Delhi, July 16: Argentina has secured its place in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by defeating England 2-0 in the semifinals. The hero of this victory was captain Lionel Messi, who played a crucial role in both goals scored by the team. With this win, Messi has achieved a milestone that no other player in the world has reached before.

With two assists in the semifinals, Messi now has a total of 12 assists in World Cup history. Notably, 10 of these assists have come during knockout matches of the tournament. According to statistics, Messi is the first player to reach this landmark, as no other player has managed more than eight assists in World Cup history.

In the semifinal match, Argentina appeared to be on the back foot from the start. Both teams made several attempts to score in the first half, but neither succeeded. England seemed more dominant in the first half compared to Argentina. The second half began with England taking the lead in the 55th minute, thanks to a powerful shot from Anthony Gordon, making the score 1-0.

However, Argentina continued to press for an equalizer, and in the final seven minutes, they made a remarkable comeback. In the 85th minute, a brilliant pass from Lionel Messi was converted into a goal by Enzo Fernández, leveling the score at 1-1.

Once again, in injury time, Messi delivered another outstanding pass, which Lautaro Martínez headed into the net, putting Argentina ahead 2-1. England fought hard to equalize but was unable to do so before the final whistle. Argentina will now face Spain in the championship match, as Spain defeated France 2-0 to secure their spot in the final.