Messi at 39: Two Assists Sink England and Send Argentina to the Final

Lionel Messi is 39 years old, walks nearly half the pitch at any given moment, and just completely destroyed England. Argentina beat the Three Lions 2-1 in Atlanta, with Messi pulling every string, earning his side a World Cup final date with Spain in New Jersey on Sunday.

The Numbers Don't Lie

According to BBC Sport, Messi completed nine dribbles against England — more than the entire Three Lions squad managed combined, who clocked just seven between them. He had seven touches inside England's box. So did every English outfield player put together. Four chances created from his boot alone. Same story — every England player added up equalled one Messi.

Those two assists push him to four for the tournament, sitting alongside his eight goals. That makes him the joint leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup and the second-highest assister in the entire competition. He is running this tournament, and he is doing it on fumes and genius.

How He Broke England Open

The first half was tight. Messi drifted centrally, showed flashes but nothing decisive. Then Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute, and Thomas Tuchel made the call to sit deeper, pack defenders in, and protect the lead.

Big mistake.

Argentina immediately shifted Messi out to the right wing, and from that point England had no answers. Argentina controlled 88% of possession over the following 37 minutes. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said it plainly afterward: "Getting Messi on the wing was the key for us."

The equaliser arrived in the 85th minute — Messi found Enzo Fernandez from a corner routine, and Fernandez lashed it home from outside the box. Then, deep into injury time, Messi whipped a cross to Lautaro Martinez, who headed in the winner. Tie over. England eliminated.

Messi became the first player on record — dating back to 1966 — to complete nine or more dribbles and contribute two assists in a single World Cup knockout match. That is not a hot take. That is history.

What the Pundits Said

Micah Richards, speaking as a BBC pundit, cut to the chase: "They have Lionel Messi. They have the GOAT. The greatest of all time. We thought it could have been Bellingham or Kane, but this is why he is the king."

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart compared Messi to someone holding a skeleton key while the rest of England was busy locking doors. Paul Robinson called him "a little magician." Even England captain Harry Kane acknowledged the inevitable: "He's one of the best players ever for a reason."

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni was more direct: "He's the best player in history. I don't know what else he would have to do to prove that."

A Career Rewritten, Again

Remember, this is a man who became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer earlier in this tournament, surpassing 21 goals across his career in the competition. He also wrote history with seven consecutive World Cup goals, and his sixth goal alone broke a World Cup scoring record.

This is also a man who retired from international football in 2016 after losing three Copa America finals and the 2014 World Cup final to Germany. He reversed that decision, won the Copa America twice, then lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022 — at 35, in what he said would be his last World Cup.

Then he moved to Inter Miami. Everyone assumed he was winding down. Now he is in another World Cup final.

Messi has scored or assisted in 13 consecutive matches across club and country. One more involvement against Spain on Sunday ties his own record of 14 straight, set back in 2011.

Sunday's Final

Argentina face Spain — the country where Messi built his legend at Barcelona — in New Jersey. The golden boot race is razor thin: Messi and Kylian Mbappe are level on eight goals, with Messi holding the edge on assists (four to Mbappe's three) if it comes to a tiebreaker.

At 39, nobody is writing this man off again.