The FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final clash between Argentina and England was a nail-biter at the Atlanta Stadium. Although Argentina had possession of the ball for most of the match, the game looked more in England’s favor after they scored their first goal in the 55th minute. The Three Lions tried their best to stop Lionel Messi’s side from scoring a goal.
Argentina bounced back in the last few minutes of the game to beat England 2-1 and seal their final spot against Spain, thanks to Messi, who provided two crucial assists to both of his teammates, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. Lionel Scaloni’s side will aim to defend their title and become the second team ever to do so.
Lionel Messi once again played a crucial role in Argentina’s victory, setting up both goals scored by Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. With this win, Argentina booked their place in the FIFA World Cup final, and Messi added another incredible record to his legendary career.
At 39 years and 25 days old, Messi has become the oldest outfield player ever to reach a FIFA World Cup final. He broke the previous record held by Sweden’s Gunnar Gren, who was 37 years and 241 days old when he played in the 1958 World Cup final. He has also become the first player in football history to reach a World Cup final after turning 39.
Lionel Messi scripts history
In the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals between Argentina and England, Lionel Messi once again proved why he is considered the greatest to ever play this sport. Messi also created history by becoming the oldest outfield player to play in a FIFA World Cup semi-final. At 39 years old, he became the first outfield player aged over 39 to feature in the tournament’s last-four stage. In doing so, he also surpassed the long-standing record held by West Germany’s Fritz Walter, who played in the 1958 World Cup semi-final at the age of 37 years and 236 days.
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Messi’s performance in the semi-final stands out as a masterclass. Despite his age, the Argentine captain dictated the tempo of the game with precise passes and intelligent movement that created space for his younger teammates. Enzo Fernández’s equalizer and Lautaro Martínez’s winner were direct results of Messi’s unselfish playmaking, highlighting how he elevates those around him even in the twilight of his career.
List of oldest players to play in FIFA World Cup semi-final
| Player | Team | Age | Year |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 39 years, 21 days | 2026 |
| Fritz Walter | West Germany | 37 years, 236 days | 1958 |
| Gunnar Gren | Sweden | 37 years, 236 days | 2022 |
| Luka Modrić | Croatia | 37 years, 95 days | 2022 |
| Nílton Santos | Brazil | 37 years, 28 days | 1962 |
List of oldest players to play in FIFA World Cup final
| Player | Team | Age | Year |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 39 years 25 days | 2026 |
| Gunnar Gren | Sweden | 37 years 241 days | 1958 |
| Nilton Santos | Brazil | 37 years 32 days | 1962 |
| Olivier Giround | France | 36 years 79 days | 2022 |
| Miroslav Klose | Germany | 36 years 34 days | 2014 |
| Nils Liedholm | Sweden | 35 years 264 days | 1958 |
Lionel Messi scripted another record as he became the first captain since Diego Maradona (1986, 1990) to captain his team to two consecutive FIFA World Cup finals.
Messi has now appeared in a record six FIFA World Cup knockout stage matches after the age of 35. In the 2026 tournament, he has registered three assists and one goal across the knockout rounds. The Argentine playmaker also became the player with the most assists in World Cup history, extending his tally to 18. This semi-final victory marked Argentina’s third World Cup final appearance under Messi’s captaincy. The team previously reached the finals in 2014, 2022, and now 2026.
Messi is also the current frontrunner for the Golden Boot award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 8 goals and four assists in the tournament so far. He leads the Golden Boot race ahead of several top strikers remaining in the competition as he aims to add the individual honour to his team’s success in what could be his final World Cup campaign.
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