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Lionel Messi praised the determination of his Argentina squad following their 2026 World Cup semifinal win against England, calling it a game his team "couldn't afford to lose".
Argentina edged past England 2–1 in Atlanta on Wednesday, overturning a one-goal deficit to claim victory in regular time through late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez—both set up by Messi.
England grabbed the lead early in the second half before dropping into a defensive shell, with the reigning champions, inspired by Messi, launching relentless attacks until finally breaking through on 85 minutes.
In the lead-up, the semifinal had been hyped as the tournament's marquee event, given the enormous stakes and the intense rivalry—both on and off the pitch—between Argentina and England.
'Special Feelings' During the Anthem
Speaking to Argentine broadcaster TYC Sports after the game, Messi opened up about how the weight of the occasion drove him and his teammates forward.
"Even though it was a football match, as we began walking out onto the pitch and during the national anthem, we felt something special, and the whole squad felt it," he said.
"This wasn't just another win. It was a significant victory that the Argentine people desired, and so did we, and it has placed us in yet another World Cup final."
A visibly fired-up Argentina stood tall during the pre-match anthems, while the atmosphere inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium was overwhelmingly in favor of La Albiceleste.
The win sets Argentina on a collision course with Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, July 19.
Resilient Argentina Silence Doubters
Messi, who tops the Golden Boot race with eight goals and four assists, lauded his team's fighting spirit after they once again mounted a comeback to snatch a late win.
"This group is extraordinary," the skipper said. "Today we went searching for it again when the going got tough—we never lost faith, never stopped pushing. With the way we play, we really imposed our game when we were trailing. We pushed them deep into their own half and it's an immense joy."
He continued: "This group doesn't surprise me. I know, and we all know, what we are capable of. People may have had reservations about how we came into this, because some players were running on empty and dealing with issues, but when this group comes together and stands as one, it always finds that extra gear. They lift each other and discover reserves they didn't know they had."
Messi also characterized the match as one Argentina "couldn't lose" for fear of handing ammunition to critics back home.
"It was a special match against England, [one that] we couldn't lose," he said. "While this group owes nothing to nobody, you know how Argentinians are—we always demand more, and I think if we had lost today, people would have come out and said some nonsense, and we didn't give them that opportunity."
"We knew we were the better footballing side, but so much is on the line in a match of this scale, where historic moments are made, and it's still special for everything it stands for—and we had to come out on top."