Player Ratings: England vs Argentina 2026 World Cup Semifinal Thriller

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, looked set to be eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup just five minutes from time, following an early second-half strike from Anthony Gordon. Yet England, under Thomas Tuchel, faltered in the closing stages, allowing the defending champions to mount a stunning comeback. Messi provided two key assists as Argentina scored twice to claim a 2-1 victory and secure a place in the final.

The goals came from Enzo Fernandez, who struck a powerful long-range shot, and Lautaro Martinez, introduced late to score the winner. England's defensive approach in the last 20 minutes backfired badly, inviting relentless pressure and ultimately surrendering their chance at the final.

Here is a detailed breakdown of individual performances from both teams during this intense semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Final Score

Argentina 2 - 1 England

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Referee: Ismael Elfath (USA)

England Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

1. Jordan Pickford (GK), 24. Reece James, 5. John Stones, 6. Marc Guehi, 25. Djed Spence, 4. Declan Rice, 8. Elliot Anderson, 17. Morgan Rogers, 10. Jude Bellingham, 18. Anthony Gordon, 9. Harry Kane

Argentina Starting XI (4-4-2)

23. Emi Martinez (GK), 26. Nahuel Molina, 13. Cristian Romero, 6. Lisandro Martinez, 3. Nicolas Tagliafico, 17. Giuliano Simeone, 20. Alexis Mac Allister, 5. Leandro Paredes, 24. Enzo Fernandez, 10. Lionel Messi, 9. Julian Alvarez

England Player Ratings

• Ezri Konsa (72'): 2 – Came on defensively but was beaten for the winning goal.
• Dan Burn (82'): 3 – Minimal involvement late in the game.
• Nico O'Reilly (82'): 4 – No passes attempted in limited time.
• Ivan Toney (90'): N/A – Too late to impact the match.
• Marcus Rashford (90'): N/A – Could not affect the result after coming on.

England Coach: Thomas Tuchel – 2

England controlled much of the match and deserved to hold their lead. The decision to park the bus early with over 20 minutes remaining proved disastrous. Removing attacking threat Anthony Gordon for a defender allowed Argentina to seize control. This tactical retreat invited relentless pressure, leading to England’s downfall.

Argentina Player Ratings

• Nico Gonzalez (65'): 8 – Solid performance with defensive contributions and attacking presence.
• Gonzalo Montiel (72'): 7 – Helped pin England back with forward runs.
• Nicolas Otamendi (72'): 8 – Perfect passing accuracy and crucial in maintaining possession.
• Rodrigo De Paul (72'): 8 – Stabilized midfield and contributed to Argentina’s control.
• Lautaro Martinez (81'): 8 – Came off bench to score the winning header from Messi’s assist.

Argentina Coach: Lionel Scaloni – 7

Argentina lagged behind for much of the game, relying heavily on physical play and fouls. After falling behind, Scaloni made bold substitutions that energized his side. Bringing on Lautaro Martinez paid off instantly, and the team capitalized on England’s defensive collapse. Though Tuchel’s tactics aided Argentina’s surge, Scaloni deserves credit for the decisive changes.