Lautaro Martinez's stoppage-time header sends Argentina past England 2-1 and into World Cup final against Spain

How the match unfolded

On Wednesday night in Atlanta, England struck first when Anthony Gordon capped a flowing move to give the Three Lions the lead. Argentina, however, gradually seized control and levelled midway through the second half, setting the stage for a frantic finale. Deep into added time, Lautaro Martinez rose to meet a cross and powered a header past the England goalkeeper, sparking wild celebrations among the thousands of travelling Albiceleste supporters.

The 2-1 scoreline barely captures the tension of a semi-final that, like Argentina's last-16 comeback against Egypt, saw the world champions reeled back from the brink. The final whistle confirmed a meeting with Spain on Sunday, Argentina's opportunity to add a fourth star to their jersey.

A historic rivalry rekindled

Ahead of the match, Diego Maradona Jr, son of the late Argentine icon, told Spanish daily Marca that the meeting carried weight far beyond the pitch. "My father would not see it as a normal match," he said, recalling the 1986 quarter-final in which Diego Maradona scored the 'Hand of God' goal and the 'Goal of the Century'.

For all Argentines and Maradonians, it will be a special encounter, where everything about the Falklands and all our brothers who died there comes to mind, then what happened to my dad in '86. My old man won a historic match and since then, nothing is normal against England.

The 1982 Falklands War, in which 649 Argentine and 258 British soldiers died, still colours the fixture. "England are in form, but watch out, they have to face and beat the world champions. It's going to be difficult... for both teams," Maradona Jr added.

Messi's enduring influence

Lionel Messi, now 39, entered the semi-final as the tournament's leading marksman with eight goals. While he did not add to his tally, his movement and passing dragged the English defence out of shape and created the space for Argentina's comeback. The No. 10, who captained Argentina to the 2022 title, stands 90 minutes from lifting the trophy again.

England's own attacking riches were on display through Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, each with six goals in the competition. Yet they were kept largely quiet after Gordon's early strike, as Argentina's back line tightened and Emiliano Martinez made the saves that preserved the path to the final.

Road to the final

Argentina will now prepare for Spain, who booked their place earlier in the week. The final, set for Sunday at MetLife Stadium, promises a clash of styles: Argentina's rugged resilience against Spain's possession-based approach. For Martinez, the stoppage-time hero, the moment was one he had imagined since childhood. "I dreamed of it," he said post-match.

Spain await, and Argentina, once again, have found a way. The question now is whether they can deliver one more miracle.