Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez said that he would savour the moment after scoring the winner in the 2-1 come-from-behind 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final win over England on Wednesday (July 15) in Atlanta.
The Three Lions took a 55th-minute lead through Anthony Gordon – set up by Morgan Rogers – before opting to sit back on their slender lead by making a slew of defensive substitutions, bringing on defenders Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly and Dan Burn.
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With the Albiceleste trailing with nine minutes left, Martinez came on for Nicolas Tagliafico. Four minutes later, Lionel Scaloni’s side were on level terms, thanks to a superb strike from distance by Enzo Fernandez, set up by Lionel Messi.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Messi crossed for Martinez to head home the winner at the far post as Argentina survived nearly 12 minutes of stoppage time to book a final date with Spain on Sunday (July 19) in New Jersey.
Martinez – who had gone without scoring in six games in the triumphant 2022 campaign in Qatar – said about his winning intervention that brought him to tears:
“The first time that my dad bought me a pair of football boots, I dreamed of this moment,” Martinez said (as per The Touchline T). “My parents watching me score, my kid watching me score… I enjoy this. I’m a man, and I have enjoyed life.”
The Inter Milan forward scored in stoppage time in the 3-1 quarter-final win over 10-man Switzerland, having also netted in the 3-1 group-stage win over Jordan last month.
“Lionel Messi is the best in history” – England forward praises Argentina captain after FIFA World Cup SF loss
England striker Harry Kane waxed lyrical of his Argentina counterpart Lionel Messi following the Three Lions’ 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final defeat to the holders in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Playing his first match against Thomas Tuchel’s England, the 39-year-old Messi delivered a performance to remember. Although he didn’t score, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sparked the Albiceleste’s comeback by setting up Enzo Fernandez’s equaliser before assisting Lautaro Martinez’s stoppage time winner.
“Last World Cup for me? Seeing Messi playing at 39 years old makes me not think about that,” said Kane (as per Albiceleste Talk). “Messi is the best player in history, we tried to stop him as much as possible but every time the ball reached him he came back to life.”
Messi is back atop the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot leaderboard, having never won the coveted award during his illustrious career.
Edited by Bhargav
