At 38, Lionel Messi is widely expected to be playing in his final World Cup, and Argentina’s semifinal against England in Atlanta carries the weight of potentially being his last World Cup knockout match.
A Campaign of Contrasts
Argentina cruised through the group stage with wins over Algeria, Austria and Jordan, but the knockout rounds have told a very different story. The team needed extra time to escape Cape Verde in the Round of 32, then trailed Egypt 2-0 with barely ten minutes remaining in the Round of 16 before Cristian Romero and Messi scored in four second-half minutes, setting up Enzo Fernández’s stoppage-time winner.
A Quarterfinal Without Messi Scoring
Against Switzerland, Messi failed to score for the first time all tournament, though his assist for Alexis Mac Allister’s opening goal proved he remained central to Argentina’s attack even without finding the net himself. Julián Álvarez’s extra-time strike ultimately settled the match 3-1.
Why This Match Matters So Much
Only Italy and Brazil have ever successfully defended a World Cup title. Argentina, chasing that same feat, now faces an England side that has needed similarly dramatic moments to reach this stage, including Jude Bellingham’s extra-time brace against Norway in the quarterfinals.
The Stakes for Messi’s Legacy
Whether or not Argentina reaches Sunday’s final against Spain, this tournament has already added to Messi’s World Cup scoring record. But a win over England, in a fixture carrying decades of historical weight between the two nations, would offer a fitting stage for what may be the final chapter of his international career.
The result in Atlanta will determine whether Messi’s story ends with a heartbreaking exit or one more shot at football’s ultimate prize.
