Argentina has reached the 2026 World Cup final, set to face Spain, after a series of dramatic comeback victories. Lionel Messi has been a central figure in their path to the championship match, despite not scoring since the round of 16.
Messi has contributed key assists throughout the tournament, including a pair in the semifinal against England. Stu Holden of FOX Sports observed Messi's persistent presence on the field, noting that his involvement often signaled a shift in momentum. "There was never even a thought in Messi or Argentina’s mind that that game was done," Holden stated.
Argentina's semifinal win against England was marked by a late surge. After England equalized in the 55th minute, Argentina scored twice in the final minutes of regulation and stoppage time to secure their place in the final. This victory mirrored their earlier matches, which often featured late game-winning goals, including a 3-2 win over Cape Verde and a round of 16 match where they overcame a 2-0 deficit with three goals in the final 11 minutes.
England's defensive strategy, described as a 'park the bus' approach, proved insufficient against Argentina. Holden suggested that adopting such a defensive posture against the defending champions and a player of Messi's caliber was a miscalculation. "I think Thomas Tuchel was naive to think that they could do that against, not just the defending World champions, but the best player in the world, Lionel Messi," Holden said.
Argentina is now competing for their second consecutive World Cup title, a feat previously achieved by Brazil and Italy. They will face Spain, a team that has conceded only one goal in the tournament. Messi's ability to create scoring opportunities, whether through crosses or individual play, poses a significant challenge for opposing defenses.
The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET at New York/New Jersey Stadium.