Lionel Messi has finally addressed one of the biggest talking points surrounding Argentina’s remarkable FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign. Following Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in the semi-final, the legendary captain delivered a strong message to critics who have repeatedly claimed that FIFA and match officials have favored the reigning world champions.
Speaking after the pulsating contest in Atlanta, the 39-year-old dismissed the allegations, insisting that Argentina’s journey to another World Cup final has been built on determination, resilience, and performances on the pitch not outside influence. Messi’s comments came after Argentina produced another memorable comeback to eliminate England and book a blockbuster final against Spain.
Messi Hits Back at Critics
The Argentine superstar made it clear that he has grown tired of hearing accusations that his team receives special treatment from referees.
“It hurts whoever it hurts, and let them say whatever they want we proved once again on the pitch that nobody gives us anything,” Messi told TyC Sports after the match.
The World Cup-winning captain admitted that Argentina entered the tournament with plenty of doubts surrounding the squad, but he never stopped believing in his teammates.
“We came in under fire, with a lot of doubts around us, but I knew this group always competes. I was sure we were going to be among the final four and, thank God, we made it into the top two,” he said.
Messi also pointed out that defeating England carried enormous emotional significance and that critics were waiting for Argentina to stumble.
“If we had lost to England, people would’ve come out and said some nonsense about us, but we didn’t give them the chance. We were lucky enough to win, to get through this, with everything this match means,” he added.
England Took the Lead, But Argentina Never Panicked
The semi-final was fiercely contested from the opening whistle. The first half was dominated by physical battles rather than attacking football, with both teams committing numerous fouls and failing to register a shot on target.
England finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon finished a swift counter-attack that began with Harry Kane and was brilliantly set up by Morgan Rogers. For a while, Thomas Tuchel’s side looked destined for the final.
However, Argentina gradually took control of possession and began piling pressure on England’s defense. As the match entered its closing stages, Messi once again stepped up when his country needed him most. In the 85th minute, the Argentine captain reacted quickest to a loose ball before finding Enzo Fernández, who curled a superb finish into the net to level the scores.
Deep into stoppage time, Messi produced another moment of brilliance. His inch-perfect cross found Lautaro Martínez inside the penalty area, and the striker headed home the dramatic winner in the 90+2nd minute, sending Argentina into another World Cup final.
Another Historic Night for Messi
Beyond helping Argentina reach the final, Messi also added several remarkable milestones to his already legendary career. His two assists against England took his tally to 12 World Cup assists, making him the tournament’s all-time leading assist provider since detailed records began in 1966.
Even more impressively, 10 of those assists have come during knockout matches, highlighting his ability to deliver on football’s biggest stage. Messi is also firmly in contention for the Golden Boot. He is currently level with France captain Kylian Mbappé on eight goals, but his four assists give him the advantage in the tournament’s tiebreaker.
At 39 years of age, Messi continues to produce world-class performances when it matters most, leading Argentina within touching distance of consecutive FIFA World Cup titles.
Now, only one obstacle remains.
Standing between Argentina and another historic triumph is an unbeaten Spain side that has impressed throughout the tournament. With Messi chasing yet another chapter in his extraordinary legacy, Sunday’s final promises to be one of the biggest matches in World Cup history.
