England captain Harry Kane was left devastated after his team’s dramatic 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but even in disappointment, he had nothing but praise for Lionel Messi.
England looked set to book a place in the World Cup final after Anthony Gordon gave them the lead in the second half. However, Argentina staged a stunning late comeback, with Messi once again proving why he is regarded as one of football’s greatest players.
The Argentine captain produced two decisive assists in the closing minutes of the match to help his team secure a memorable victory and a place in another World Cup final.
Messi Turns the Game Around
For much of the match, England managed to keep Messi relatively quiet. Thomas Tuchel’s side defended well and took control after Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute.
But as the game entered its final stages, Messi produced two moments of brilliance.
In the 85th minute, he played a clever short corner before spotting Enzo Fernández in space outside the penalty area. His perfectly weighted pass found the midfielder, who fired a spectacular shot past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to bring Argentina level.
Deep into stoppage time, Messi delivered another moment of magic, sending a precise cross into the penalty area. Lautaro Martínez rose highest to head home the winner, breaking English hearts and sending Argentina into the final.
Harry Kane Praises Messi
Speaking after the match, Kane admitted that England had done well to contain Messi for long periods but acknowledged that world-class players only need one opportunity to make the difference.
“Leo is still performing at the highest level,” Kane said.
“For large parts of the game, I felt we dealt with him really well. But that’s what the most dangerous players in the world do. When they get the ball in the final third, they can create something special. He did that again today. He’s one of the best players ever for a reason.”
Kane’s comments reflected the admiration that many footballers have for Messi, whose influence once again proved decisive on football’s biggest stage.
‘I’m Gutted’
While Kane was gracious in praising Argentina’s captain, he admitted the defeat was incredibly painful.
In his post-match interview, the England skipper struggled to hide his emotions.
“I’m gutted,” he said.
“I’m gutted for the boys, the staff, and all our fans. We played a really good game for most of the match. Once we went 1-0 up, we probably tried to protect the lead instead of pushing for another goal, and at this level that’s simply not enough.”
He added that every player had given everything on the pitch.
“The lads gave everything—running, sweat, blood, tears. That’s why falling short like this hurts so much.”
Tuchel Wanted England to Keep Attacking
Kane also revealed that manager Thomas Tuchel had instructed the team to continue attacking even after taking the lead.
According to the striker, England’s plan was to score a second goal rather than defend their narrow advantage.
However, Argentina’s relentless pressing made life increasingly difficult.
“After we scored, they kept coming at us wave after wave,” Kane explained.
“The message from the manager was to go again and score another goal. But once Argentina equalised, we couldn’t regain our momentum.”
England’s defence fought bravely, making several crucial blocks, but Argentina’s attacking pressure eventually paid off.
Argentina Reach Another World Cup Final
The victory sends Argentina into their seventh FIFA World Cup final, making them the second-most successful nation in terms of final appearances after Germany.
It also marks Argentina’s second consecutive World Cup final appearance, a feat they had previously achieved between 1986 and 1990.
With Lionel Messi continuing to deliver match-winning performances despite being in the latter stages of his career, Argentina will now head into the final hoping to lift another World Cup trophy.
For England, meanwhile, another painful World Cup campaign ends in heartbreak. Despite producing one of their strongest performances of the tournament, Kane and his teammates were ultimately undone by the brilliance of Lionel Messi—a player the England captain himself described as “one of the best players ever.”
