
On July 16, Argentina played against England. Even before the match, many were confident that Messi’s team would win because of these alleged favoritism. Although the soccer legend did not score any goals, he provided two assists to lead Argentina to a 2-1 victory over England in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Lionel Messi silences critics
Following the game, Messi broke his silence on the frequent rumors and shut down his critics. Speaking to TYC Sports, he said, “It hurts for anyone who gets hurt and says whatever he wants, we proved once again on the field that nobody gives us anything. We entered the relegation zone, with many doubts, but I knew this group always competes. I was sure we would be among the last four teams, and thank God, we managed to enter the first two places.”
Shutting down the critics, he said, “If we had lost against England, people would have come out and talked nonsense about us, but we didn’t give them a chance. We were lucky to win, through this, for everything that this match means. We knew that in football we were better than them, but a lot is taken into account when you play a match of this size, because we carry special, historical burdens, and it still means to win.”
Lionel Messi’s journey in the FIFA World Cup
π₯Ίπ¦π· What does it mean for Lionel Messi.
π₯ @limbzhq pic.twitter.com/ADl7iQwY5u
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 15, 2026
Who will play in the FIFA World Cup final?
The match between Spain and Argentina will take place on July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium (known as MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.
(Photo Credit: Lionel Messi Instagram)
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