Argentina booked their place in the World Cup final with a 2-1 victory over England that was settled not by a single moment of brilliance but by a seven-minute collapse of a lead that had stood for over half an hour. Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal had England in control until the 84th minute, when Lionel Messi, operating in the spaces between the lines, began the move that led to the equaliser. He then delivered the corner from which the winner was scored, turning a match that had been drifting towards a cautious English victory into a showcase of Argentine resilience. The result, secured at the Atalanta Stadium, means Argentina will contest a second consecutive World Cup final, facing Spain in New Jersey on Sunday.

The comeback was not an isolated incident but the latest in a sequence of late revivals that have defined Argentina’s knockout stage. Against Cape Verde in the round of 16, they required two extra-time goals to advance. In the quarter-final, they trailed Egypt 2-0 with eleven minutes of normal time remaining before scoring three times. Against Switzerland, they struck twice in the second period of extra time to avoid a penalty shootout. Coach Lionel Scaloni’s substitutions against England followed a pattern of escalating risk: he withdrew a defensive midfielder for a forward in the 64th minute and, with nine minutes left, replaced a left-back with a striker, leaving his side exposed to counter-attacks but flooding the attack. Viewed from Buenos Aires, this willingness to gamble is read as a reflection of a broader national sporting culture that prizes audacity over caution.

Messi’s role in the tournament has been both statistical and symbolic. His eight goals make him the competition’s leading scorer, and his twelve assists are a record. Yet the narrative around the 39-year-old has shifted from that of a player being carried to a final farewell to one who is actively driving his team. Analysts in Argentina point to the environment constructed by Scaloni over an eight-year cycle, which deliberately moved Messi from the pedestal of sole saviour to the role of a teammate supported by a younger generation. The psychological effect, documented in a series of interviews with the squad, is that players have internalised the mission of protecting their captain, allowing him to conserve energy for decisive interventions rather than carrying the entire creative burden.

Spanish commentary ahead of the final has acknowledged this threat. Presenter David Sanchez, while maintaining that Spain have been the tournament’s most consistent side, noted that a degree of fear among Spanish supporters is appropriate given Argentina’s pedigree and Messi’s capacity to decide matches. Messi himself, responding to accusations that Argentina have benefited from favourable refereeing or special treatment, stated that reaching a second consecutive final proves the team’s achievements are “not a coincidence and nothing has been given to us.” The final will be played at MetLife Stadium, the same venue where, a decade ago, a tearful Messi announced his international retirement after losing the Copa América final. He returns now as a two-time continental champion and World Cup holder, with the opportunity to become only the second captain to lift the trophy twice.