Argentina produced a breathtaking late comeback to defeat England 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, surging into the World Cup final and keeping alive their bid for back-to-back titles.

For most of the night, it appeared England had finally found a way to unseat the reigning champions. Anthony Gordon’s crisp finish early in the second half gave Thomas Tuchel’s side a lead they protected with discipline and, at times, desperation. Argentina, increasingly frantic, were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who flung himself to his left to claw away Nico González’s header and later reacted sharply to turn aside Alexis Mac Allister after the midfielder had already rattled the post.

Yet the longer England clung on, the more inevitable Argentina’s response seemed. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Lionel Messi dropped deep, drew defenders toward him and rolled the ball into the path of Enzo Fernández. From 20 yards, Fernández unleashed a swerving drive that screamed past Pickford and into the corner, detonating a wall of sky-blue celebration behind the goal.

The equalizer transformed the match. England, who had grown passive after scoring, retreated even further, inviting wave after wave of Argentine pressure. In stoppage time, they finally cracked. Messi drifted into the right channel, paused just long enough to assess the penalty area and then delivered a teasing cross to the far post. Substitute Lautaro Martínez attacked it with perfect timing, powering a close-range header beyond Pickford to complete the turnaround.

Messi’s assist was his tenth in World Cup knockout play, extending a record that underlines his enduring influence at 39. He has now produced a goal or assist in 11 consecutive World Cup matches, a streak unmatched in the modern era. For Martínez, whose role has fluctuated throughout the tournament, the winner fulfilled a private prophecy; he later revealed he had told teammates on the bench he would come on and decide the match.

England were left to rue their inability to manage the final minutes of a contest that had begun as a snarling, stop-start affair between two historic rivals. Fouls and confrontations dominated a cagey first half, but once Argentina fell behind, Lionel Scaloni’s side played with the urgency of champions unwilling to surrender their crown.

Argentina now advance to face Spain in East Rutherford, a final that will pit the champions of South America against the champions of Europe and bring together the world’s top two ranked teams. It will be Argentina’s seventh appearance in a World Cup final and a chance to join Italy and Brazil as the only nations to win consecutive titles.