Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Lionel Messi escaped England’s control with a second-half positional change as Argentina won their FIFA World Cup semifinal 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium on July 15. The 39-year-old moved wider on the right and supplied Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time winner, sending Argentina into the final.
England had contained Lionel Messi for most of the opening hour, limiting him to one long-range shot that was blocked before reaching the penalty area. Elliot Anderson also stopped his only central touch inside the box shortly after Anthony Gordon put England ahead.
More on the captain appears in Lionel Messi’s World Cup record, while the official FIFA match centre records Argentina’s comeback.
England Control Messi Centrally
Lionel Messi initially occupied his familiar right half-space, an area England had prepared to defend. His sprinting accounted for 4.3 per cent of his distance covered, below his figures against Switzerland and Egypt.
Wide Position Changes the Match
The pattern shifted when Lionel Messi moved between the right edge of England’s penalty area and the touchline. He attempted six open-play crosses from that zone during the second half after recording only one touch there before halftime.
One delivery created a Nicolás González header that Jordan Pickford saved. Thomas Tuchel then introduced Ezri Konsa and later Dan Burn as England moved to a back five, but the added defenders could not stop the supply from wide areas.
Lionel Messi’s final cross came with his right foot and reached Lautaro Martínez at the back post. The striker’s header completed Argentina’s late turnaround after Enzo Fernández equalised in the 85th minute.
It was only Lionel Messi’s second right-footed assist at a World Cup. England contained his central threat but failed to react when he found a different route into the match.
