Messi magic sends Argentina into World Cup final as England fall short
Argentina defeated England in a dramatic World Cup semi-final, with Lionel Messi playing a key role in the victory. The match was marked by political tension regarding the Falkland Islands and criticism of England coach Thomas Tuchel's defensive substitutions.
Why it matters
The intersection of international sports and historical geopolitical disputes continues to create high-stakes environments in global tournaments.
Lionel Messi was Argentina's hero again, at the age of 39 (ROBERTO SCHMIDT) (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/AFP) Argentina will play Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday after Lionel Messi orchestrated a spectacular comeback against England in a semi-final with a dramatic ending.
Messi proved that at 39 he can still drag his team from a goal behind to glory -- and the 2-1 victory in Atlanta on Wednesday keeps the South Americans' bid for back-to-back titles alive.
Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scored Argentina's goals, but both were created by Messi.
Messi said the match, played against the backdrop of a lingering dispute between the countries over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, was "quite a special one, especially playing against England with all the historical context".
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