Argentina produced a stunning late comeback to defeat England 2-1 on Wednesday, securing their place in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face Spain.
England appeared to be on course for their first World Cup final in 60 years after Anthony Gordon gave them the lead in the 55th minute.
However, Argentina refused to give up. Enzo Fernández levelled the score in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez headed home a cross from Lionel Messi deep into stoppage time to complete a dramatic turnaround.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford kept his side in the contest with a series of impressive saves as Argentina dominated large spells of the game.
Messi once again proved decisive, providing the assist for the winning goal and continuing his influential performances throughout the tournament.
The victory keeps Argentina's hopes of retaining the World Cup alive, while ending England's dream of reaching the final after decades of waiting.
England had defended well for most of the match but were left heartbroken after conceding twice in the closing minutes.
Before the semifinal, England defender Ezri Konsa said the squad had remained united despite criticism from the media, while head coach Thomas Tuchel stressed the importance of togetherness ahead of the encounter.
The match added another memorable chapter to the historic rivalry between both nations, with Argentina emerging victorious to set up a final showdown against Spain on Sunday.
England will now take on France in the third-place playoff as they look to finish the tournament on a positive note.
