England struck first in the second half when Anthony Gordon converted Morgan Rogers’ cross from close range. Argentina pressed relentlessly and finally equalized in the 85th minute through Enzo Fernández, who unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box after Lionel Messi’s short corner.
The equalizer was crucial for Argentina, which attacked England for most of the second half. The second goal arrived in the 92nd minute of the match after a right-footed assist by Messi, who found Lautaro Martínez in the box.
The decisive moment came in stoppage time. Messi delivered a precise right-footed cross, and Lautaro Martínez headed home to complete the comeback. Argentina, the reigning champions, will now contest their second consecutive World Cup final.
Argentina booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in Kansas City,
England, meanwhile, will face France in the third-place playoff at Miami Stadium on July 18.
softfootball player ratings:
Player Ratings
England
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Jordan Pickford | 7.5 |
| Djed Spence | 7.5 |
| Marc Guéhi | 6.5 |
| John Stones | 6.5 |
| Reece James | 7 |
| Elliot Anderson | 7 |
| Declan Rice | 7.5 |
| Jude Bellingham | 6.5 |
| Anthony Gordon | 7 (Goalscorer) |
| Morgan Rogers | 7 |
| Harry Kane | 6.5 |
Argentina
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Emiliano Martínez | 6 |
| Nicolás Tagliafico | 6 |
| Lisandro Martínez | 7 |
| Cristian Romero | 7 |
| Nahuel Molina | 6.5 |
| Leandro Paredes | 7 |
| Enzo Fernández | 7.5 (Equalizer) |
| Alexis Mac Allister | 6 |
| Giuliano Simeone | 6 |
| Julián Álvarez | 6.5 |
| Lionel Messi | 8.5 (Man of the Match, 2 assists) |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Argentina | England |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 55% | 45% |
| Total Shots | 14 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 4 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.89 | 1.12 |
| Fouls Committed | 13 | 14 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corners | 6 | 4 |
| Saves | 3 | 4 |
