Near the center circle, Lionel Messi knelt briefly and looked upward through the stadium roof. Tears of joy ran down his face as he punched the air. After two decades at the top of the sport he has known triumph and disappointment, yet this moment left him emotional once more. He walked toward supporters as teammates lifted him onto their shoulders. Some displayed a large white banner reading “The Malvinas are Argentine.”
Argentina reached a second straight World Cup final after a late rally against England in Atlanta. With five minutes remaining, the team scored twice to overturn the scoreline and secure its place. The match carried echoes of past encounters between the nations. After the final whistle, Argentine players celebrated while England players remained on the pitch.
Messi later embraced England captain Harry Kane and spoke with other opponents. Kane expressed deep disappointment. Argentina had trailed until the closing minutes before producing the decisive goals. The first half featured few clear chances and several fouls. A header by John Stones and a shot by Enzo Fernandez were among the limited attempts before the break.
When the comeback became necessary, Argentina abandoned set patterns and created space. The victory added another chapter to the long rivalry between the two teams.
