Despite starting on the bench for Argentina against England, Lautaro Martínez entered the pitch in the dying minutes to score the decisive goal, sending his nation to the 2026 World Cup final and letting out a wave of raw emotion after the whistle.
“It’s incredibly powerful, truly. Ever since the first time my old man bought me my boots, I always dreamed of scoring this goal,” Martinez said after the game. “It’s for my old lady, who since the day I left for Racing, never stopped making my bed. To me, that is worth more than a goal, more than a final.
“I have my two kids who changed my life, I enjoy all of this—my daughter made me slow down and take it all in, my son is three. Today I am a man; I enjoy life. I dreamed it, I swear to you. I told Alexis [Mac Allister] that I was going to score, and I told Facu [Facundo] Medina that he was going to come on and we were going to win it. It fell to me.
“Enzo [Fernández] scored an absolute golazo too. This team keeps showing what it’s made of. They [England] got tired; they pressed for 60 minutes and after that, they had nothing left. They dropped back, and that gave us more peace of mind to move the ball around.”
A dream final: Spain vs. Argentina
While Argentina holds the historical advantage over Spain in World Cup head-to-head records, this matchup will undoubtedly be the toughest test Lionel Scaloni’s side has faced in the tournament.
MESSI SENDS IT INTO TO LAUTARO MARTÍNEZ AND ARGENTINA TAKES THE LEAD IN STOPPAGE TIME 🇦🇷
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/6JqVAiIL9D
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) is scheduled to host the highly anticipated final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday, July 19. The world will watch an iconic showdown between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi—a matchup many fans view as a symbolic passing of the torch between eras of football dominance.
Lionel Messi is set to grace his third career World Cup final, whereas the teenage sensation Yamal will experience his very first. The previously canceled 2025 Finalissima will now effectively be contested on an even grander stage, with the most prestigious trophy in sports on the line.
Lionel Messi remains the ultimate decisive factor
Though Messi did not find the back of the net in the semifinal against England, his brilliance anchored the victory as he provided two world-class assists in a seven-minute blitz to send Argentina through. The captain stepped up at the perfect moment to keep Argentina’s dream of back-to-back world titles alive.
By leading his country to another World Cup final, Messi is set to achieve a historic milestone of longevity that not even Pelé reached. Now, just 90 minutes separate the legendary playmaker from securing another crown and further cementing his peerless legacy.
