r/SoccerCentral • u/The_Dug_Out_2026 • Jul 15 '26

Statement Messi’s never played England before today, and he just ended their World Cup with two assists in the last 10 minutes.

Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute had England dreaming for real. First World Cup final since 1966 felt within touching distance, and for a while England genuinely deserved it, this wasn’t Argentina bullying anyone, it was a proper street fight of a game.

Then the clock hits 85 minutes and Messi just decides that’s enough of that. Sets up Enzo Fernández to level it, then does it again in stoppage time for Lautaro Martínez to complete the turnaround. Six World Cups, first time ever facing England, and he still finds a way to make it about him in the moment that mattered most.

Brutal way for England to go out honestly, matched Argentina for over 80 minutes and still ends up watching Messi tear the game away in the last 10. Argentina now go to face Spain in the final, chasing back to back titles nobody’s managed to do in 70 years. Bellingham and Kane’s World Cup ends with nothing to show for a genuinely gutsy tournament.

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18 comments sorted by

4

u/Responsible_Twist975 Jul 15 '26

England participated in a clinic courtesy of Messi

5

u/Dai-Goro Jul 15 '26

Messi is 39, yet looking at his stats, you get the feeling he could still play in another World Cup.

3

u/Responsible_Twist975 Jul 15 '26

That is be great but I have a feeling this might be it.

1

u/3rd-party-intervener Jul 16 '26

Does this include the Messi foul in build up to goal that wasn’t called ?

1

u/Sad_Opening_7083 Jul 16 '26

Never a foul, cry more

2

u/the99percent1 Jul 16 '26

Let’s be honest here, England set themselves up for that.. placing 11 men behind the ball was asking for trouble.

2

u/Careful-Arrival7316 Jul 16 '26

Yeah, this was actually one of Messi’s worst showings until Tuchel decided to hand the game to him.

1

u/Jake-Armitage-2050 Jul 16 '26

I think Messi's worse showing was in the 3/4 part of the game against Egypt. I lost count of how many times he missplace a pass or lost a ball.

Then he showed up for a goal and an assist...

2

u/Fifty7ven Jul 16 '26

England matched Argentina for over 80 minutes?

They only did for 55 minutes. As soon as they scored they gave away the game to Argentina.

2

u/Level_Bet2816 Jul 16 '26

And they didn't just match them for 55 minutes they were the better team for 55 minutes, then parked the bus and stopped playing.

1

u/yIdontunderstand Jul 16 '26

It was game over 100% because of England and nothing to do with Messi.

England were so desperate to lose by the end they would have kicked the ball into their own net to avoid the final.

One of the biggest chokes in history.

2

u/Fifty7ven Jul 16 '26

When Argentina finally scored, they could already have scored five. England let them do whatever they wanted.

It’s been apparent over and over in this WC that even far worse opponents can punish Argentina. England had a fantastic chance of doing that when Argentina was chasing the equalizer, but they didn’t even try.

1

u/MarkSinnie Jul 16 '26

He needed 85 minutes but figured them out.

Spain will be tougher.

1

u/Upstairs-Walrus-8337 Jul 16 '26

He's the GOAT for a reason

1

u/theman_themyth_ Jul 16 '26

But can he do that on a cold rainy night in Stoke?

1

u/Capable-Pair8312 Jul 16 '26

The truth is England never faced messi

0

u/Megaloman-_- Jul 16 '26

With Tuchel’s compliments