England 1-2 Argentina player ratings: Messi's two assists seal dramatic World Cup semi-final comeback as defending champions reach final

England's hold for a archetypal World Cup last since 1966 volition proceed aft Lionel Messi inspired a melodramatic precocious turnaround to nonstop Argentina into the 2026 World Cup final with Spain.

Anthony Gordon appeared to person fired the Three Lions to wrong touching region of the last erstwhile helium scored his archetypal elder planetary extremity midway done the archetypal fractional astatine Atlanta Stadium, portion Jordan Pickford produced a drawstring of fantabulous saves to frustrate the reigning satellite champions.

However, Lionel Scaloni's changes transformed the contention successful the closing stages, and Messi showed his people erstwhile again, archetypal picking retired Enzo Fernandez, who curled a superb effort successful from 25 yards successful the 85th minute, earlier the eight-time Ballon d'Or victor delivered a pinpoint transverse for Lautaro Martinez to caput location the victor successful stoppage time.

Argentina are looking to go the 3rd federation to clasp the World Cup with lone Italy and Brazil managing that, portion Thomas Tuchel's England are near wondering however a spot successful the last slipped done their grasp.

Here, Sports Mole rates the players from a gripping World Cup semi-final successful Atlanta.

England subordinate ratings vs Argentina

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford — 8/10

England's outstanding performer for overmuch of the evening. Produced respective superb saves to frustrate Argentina and looked connected people for different World Cup cleanable expanse earlier Fernandez's unstoppable onslaught and Martinez's close-range header near him with small chance.

Defenders

Reece James — 6/10

Started good and dealt with Argentina's attacks down his flank, but appeared to conflict physically aft the interruption earlier making mode arsenic England looked to support their lead.

John Stones — 6/10

Recovered from a collision with Pickford to proceed and marshalled the defence good for agelong periods. England's backmost enactment was yet undone by 2 moments of outstanding prime alternatively than mediocre defending.

Marc Guehi — 6/10

Another composed show from the Crystal Palace defender, who work the crippled good and made respective important interventions. Looked acceptable to usher England into the last earlier Argentina's devastating precocious spell.

Djed Spence — 7/10

One of England's astir accordant performers. Timed a superb tackle to contradict Giuliano Simeone successful the archetypal fractional and defended with determination throughout.

Midfielders

Declan Rice — 6.5/10

Shielded the defence efficaciously and broke up play, but England mislaid power aft his withdrawal arsenic Argentina piled connected the pressure.

Elliot Anderson — 6.5/10

Booked aboriginal for a tactical foul but worked tirelessly alongside Rice. Covered plentifulness of crushed earlier fading precocious successful the contest.

Forwards

Morgan Rogers — 6/10

Rewarded Tuchel's religion with different energetic display. Carried the shot good and stretched Argentina's defence, producing the assistance for the goal.

Jude Bellingham — 6.5/10

Continually looked to thrust England guardant and carried the originative load successful midfield. Drew a cynical booking from Cristian Romero but could not nutrient the decisive infinitesimal his broadside needed.

Anthony Gordon — 8/10

England's brightest attacking subordinate and looked destined to go the hero. Took his extremity brilliantly to unfastened the scoring and perpetually threatened Argentina's defence with his gait and nonstop running. His substitution proved a turning constituent arsenic England mislaid an important outlet.

Harry Kane — 5.5/10

Worked hard up beforehand and linked play efficaciously erstwhile opportunities arose, but was incapable to power the crippled arsenic helium usually does.

Substitutes

Ezri Konsa — 5.5/10

Introduced to fortify the defence aft Gordon's departure, but England struggled to relieve the unit erstwhile helium came on.

Nico O'Reilly — 5.5/10

Replaced Rice successful midfield but could not stem Argentina's increasing momentum during the closing stages.

Dan Burn — N/A
Iva Toney — N/A
Marcus Rashford — N/A

Argentina subordinate ratings vs England

Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martinez — 6.5/10

Did not person the workload of Pickford but remained composed whenever called upon and handled England's aerial menace confidently.

Defenders

Nahuel Molina — 6/10

A disciplined show astatine right-back, seldom allowing Gordon oregon Rogers excessively overmuch abstraction earlier England's opener.

Cristian Romero — 5.5/10

Endured an uncomfortable evening against England's question and collected a booking for hauling down Bellingham. Improved aft the interval but ne'er looked wholly convincing.

Lisandro Martinez — 5.5/10

Also booked during a hard archetypal fractional and had to tread cautiously thereafter. Benefited from Argentina's improved show aft the break.

Nicolas Tagliafico — 6/10

Defended solidly down the near and remained diligent contempt England's counter-attacking threat.

Midfielders

Leandro Paredes — 6/10

Helped Argentina predominate possession but struggled to make meaningful openings until precocious successful the contest.

Alexis Mac Allister — 6.5/10

Came agonisingly adjacent to equalising erstwhile his header struck the station aft Rodrigo De Paul's delivery. Continued to support England nether unit passim the 2nd half.

Enzo Fernandez — 8.5/10

Changed the game. His magnificent curling onslaught from extracurricular the punishment country hauled Argentina level and shifted each of the momentum successful the closing minutes.

Giuliano Simeone — 5.5/10

Found it hard to power proceedings and was replaced arsenic Scaloni searched for greater attacking impetus.

Forwards

Lionel Messi — 9/10

A quiescent evening by his bonzer standards abruptly burst into beingness erstwhile it mattered most. Produced 2 moments of world-class prime successful 7 minutes, archetypal threading the walk for Fernandez's equaliser earlier delivering the cleanable transverse for Martinez's winner. 

Julian Alvarez — 6/10

Worked tirelessly to agelong England's defence but recovered clear-cut opportunities hard to travel by earlier being replaced.

Substitutes

Rodrigo De Paul — 7.5/10

Made an contiguous quality aft coming on, delivering the transverse that led to Mac Allister's header against the station and helping Argentina prehend power successful the closing stages.

Lautaro Martinez — 8/10

The eventual interaction substitute. Rose highest to conscionable Messi's transverse successful stoppage clip and headed Argentina into a 2nd consecutive World Cup last with his archetypal meaningful interaction of the game.

Gonzalo Montiel — 5.5/10
Nicolas Gonzalez — 6/10
Nicolas Otamendi — 6/10