Lionel Messi did not score against England—but once again, he decided the match.
The 39-year-old Argentina captain provided two decisive assists as the defending champions came from behind to beat England 2–1 in a dramatic 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal in Atlanta.
England took the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute and appeared close to reaching their first men’s World Cup final since 1966. However, Argentina transformed the match during its final minutes.
In the 85th minute, Messi played a short pass to Enzo Fernández, who produced a magnificent long-range strike to equalise. Argentina continued attacking instead of waiting for extra time.
Then, in the 90+2 minute, Messi delivered a precise cross into the penalty area. Substitute Lautaro Martínez rose above the English defence and headed home the winning goal.
Two Messi assists. Two late goals. One unforgettable comeback.
Updated Golden Boot standings
Messi and Kylian Mbappé have both scored eight goals. However, Messi now has four assists, while Mbappé has three.
| Position | Player | Country | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 | 4 |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 8 | 3 |
| 3 | Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 | 0 |
When players finish level on goals, FIFA uses assists as the first tiebreaker. Therefore, Messi currently leads Mbappé in the Golden Boot race. The Associated Press match report also confirms Messi’s updated total of eight goals and four assists.
Why was Google still showing Mbappé first?
Shortly after the match, Google’s AI Overview was still listing Messi with only two assists and showing Mbappé in first place.
That information was outdated. The overview appeared to be using articles published before the Argentina–England semifinal. Its own wording—that the semifinals were still approaching—revealed that today’s match statistics had not yet been included.
Once Messi’s two assists against England are added to his previous two, his tournament total becomes four.
The correct current comparison is simple:
Messi: 8 goals and 4 assists
Mbappé: 8 goals and 3 assists
Another historic night for Messi
This was also Messi’s first international match against England. He may not have scored one of his famous individual goals, but his vision and composure created the two moments that decided the semifinal.
That is perhaps the clearest picture of Messi’s greatness at this stage of his career. He no longer needs to dominate every minute. Sometimes he remains quiet, studies the spaces and waits. When the match reaches its most fragile moment, he finds the pass nobody else can see.
Messi came close to winning the Golden Boot in 2022, scoring seven goals before Mbappé overtook him with a hat-trick in the final and finished with eight. Four years later, the same two players are again separated by the smallest possible margin.
Football really enjoys writing sequels.
Is the Golden Boot race over?
Not yet.
Mbappé and France will face England in the third-place playoff, giving the French captain another opportunity to add to his eight goals.
Messi will then lead Argentina against Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, 19 July. He will have the opportunity to win his first Golden Boot and help Argentina become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain the men’s World Cup.
For now, however, the table belongs to Lionel Messi: eight goals, four assists and one final still to play.
At 39, he is not merely extending his career. He is stretching the limits of what football believed was possible.
