Lionel Messi has once again etched his name in the annals of World Cup history. The Argentine superstar led his team to the finals of the FIFA World Cup, becoming the first player to record points in seven consecutive matches during the tournament's history. Argentina triumphed over England with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory in the semifinals held at the Atlanta Stadium in the United States on July 16, 2026.

The match saw Argentina initially fall behind after Anthony Gordon scored for England in the 55th minute, putting the South American side in a precarious position. However, Messi took charge of the game, orchestrating Argentina's attack and creating numerous scoring opportunities. The team dominated possession, hitting the woodwork and forcing England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into several crucial saves.

In the 85th minute, Messi assisted Enzo Fernandez, who struck a powerful long-range shot that found the back of the net, leveling the score. Just when it seemed the match was heading to extra time, Messi delivered a precise cross in the second minute of stoppage time, which Lautaro Martinez converted with a header to secure a last-minute victory.

Messi's contributions were pivotal, as he recorded two assists in the match, bringing his total to eight goals and four assists across seven games in the tournament. This remarkable feat has never been achieved in World Cup history before.

With this victory, Argentina has advanced to the World Cup final for the second consecutive tournament, aiming for back-to-back championships. They will face Spain on July 20, 2026, as Messi seeks his second World Cup title and aims to add another historic achievement to his illustrious career.

Statistically, Messi's performance was outstanding, earning him a rating of 9.0 from the football statistics platform Footmob and an 8.0 from Sofascore, the highest ratings of the match.