Argentina Defeats England in FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinal

Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals, overturning the game in the last five minutes. Although the result favored Argentina, some players from both teams shone individually, while others did not perform as expected.

Messi's Performance Decisive
Argentina's captain Lionel Messi was once again the most influential player of the match. He received a 9/10 rating, clearly showing his impact on the field. Challenging age with his ball control, excellent dribbling, and creative play, he kept Argentina's attack dynamic. By setting the foundation for both goals, he played a decisive role in taking the team to their second consecutive World Cup final.

Other Argentinians Also Shone
Midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who provided excellent support to Messi, received an 8/10 rating. He came close to scoring a brilliant goal in the first half, and his spectacular equalizer in the 85th minute opened the path for Argentina's comeback. Alexis Mac Allister was also impressive with an equal 8 rating. Despite hitting the post twice, his activity in midfield was remarkable.

Julian Alvarez also received an 8, keeping England's defense under constant pressure. Substitute players Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Lautaro Martinez all received an 8. De Paul, in particular, changed the rhythm of Argentina's game after entering the field, while Lautaro Martinez became the team's hero by scoring the winning goal with a header in injury time.

In defense, Cristian Romero was Argentina's best defender with an 8 rating. He appeared confident even under pressure. 38-year-old Nicolas Otamendi, coming in as a substitute, received a 7 and made good use of his experience.

England's Anthony Gordon and Jaden Spence Impressive

On England's side, Anthony Gordon and Jaden Spence were the most impressive players. Both received an 8/10 rating. Gordon scored a brilliant goal early in the second half to give England the lead. He maintained his level in the semifinal, having been in excellent form throughout the tournament. Spence also earned praise for his constant attacks on the right flank and an excellent tackle to stop Giuliano Simeone.

Jordan Pickford, Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Elliot Anderson, and Morgan Rogers all received an equal 7 rating. Pickford's save from Nicolas Gonzalez's header was excellent, and Reece James returned to the team after injury and played a balanced game. Stones and Guéhi largely contained Argentina's attack, but the team failed to withstand the pressure in the final moments. Rogers provided the crucial assist for Gordon's goal.

Some Key England Players Not Up to Par

Some key England players did not perform as expected. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice both received a 6 rating. Bellingham could not influence the creative play, and Rice also failed to maintain his impact until the end of the game. Captain Harry Kane's performance was even more disappointing, receiving only a 5/10 rating. Although he provided the long pass that initiated England's goal, he did not create significant challenges for Argentina's defense throughout the game.

England also did not receive the expected support from substitute players. Ezri Konsa and Dan Burn both received a 5 rating. Konsa appeared weak during Argentina's equalizer, and Burn also failed to make an expected impact in defense. Nico O'Riley, Ivan Toney, and Marcus Rashford received 6/6 ratings each but could not change the outcome of the game.

Overall, based on individual performance evaluations, Argentina's players appeared more influential in decisive moments. Messi, Fernandez, Mac Allister, and the contributions of the substitute players, in particular, changed the course of the game. Although some England players performed excellently, Argentina appeared one step ahead in experience, composure, and capitalizing on decisive moments at the end, which took them to their second consecutive World Cup final.

Overall Player Ratings:

Player Ratings

England (1-10)

Jordan Pickford 7/10

Reece James 7/10

John Stones 7/10

Marc Guéhi 7/10

Jaden Spence 8/10

Elliot Anderson 7/10

Declan Rice 6/10

Morgan Rogers 7/10

Jude Bellingham 6/10

Anthony Gordon 8/10

Harry Kane 5/10

Substitutes

Ezri Konsa 5/10

Dan Burn 5/10

Nico O'Riley 6/10

Ivan Toney 6/10

Marcus Rashford 6/10

Argentina

Emiliano Martinez 6/10

Nahuel Molina 6/10

Cristian Romero 8/10

Lisandro Martinez 7/10

Nicolas Tagliafico 5/10

Leandro Paredes 5/10

Enzo Fernandez 8/10

Alexis Mac Allister 8/10

Thiago Almada 6/10

Lionel Messi 9/10

Julian Alvarez 8/10

Substitutes

Nicolas Gonzalez 8/10

Nicolas Otamendi 7/10

Gonzalo Montiel 7/10

Rodrigo De Paul 8/10

Lautaro Martinez 8/10