Argentina just pulled off another absolute stunner, rallying past England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinals after being down 1-0 late. Seriously, are you kidding me with this squad? It feels like they've got this magic switch they flip in the final minutes, and it's been a non-stop highlight reel of late-game dramatics from the defending champions. Now they're set to face Spain in Sunday's final, and honestly, who's going to stop them if they keep doing this?
The Comeback Kings of Qatar
This isn't just a one-off thing, either. Argentina has been the undisputed comeback king of this World Cup, especially in the knockout stage. Remember when they looked dead in the water against Egypt, down a shocking 2-0 with only 11 minutes left before second-half stoppage time? Cristian Romero kicked off the unbelievable rally in the 79th minute, Messi himself connected four minutes later, and then Enzo Fernández sealed the 3-2 victory two minutes into stoppage time. That was insane! Then against England, we saw it again: a 1-0 deficit turned into a 2-1 win thanks to Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez two minutes into stoppage time, both goals assisted by the maestro, Messi. It's like they're just waiting for the last whistle to decide they want to win.Messi's Magic Moments and Relentless Finishers
It’s not just the big comebacks, though; it's a relentless pattern. Back on June 22, against Austria in the group stage, Argentina was up 1-0 when Messi got his own rebound in the 90+5 minute, threading a blast between three defenders for an insurance goal that sealed the 2-0 win. Then, on June 27, against Jordan, Messi came in as a sub, and with Argentina leading 2-1 in the 80th minute, he spotted a gap from 25 yards out on a free kick. He sent a low shot that skipped once and hit the back of the net for the clincher, making it 3-1. The knockout stage opener against Cape Verde was wild, too. Lisandro Martínez scored in the 92nd minute for a 2-1 lead, and then Messi served up a perfect corner that resulted in an own goal in the 111th minute, giving them a 3-2 victory. Even against Switzerland, after going to extra time with 10 men, Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute, followed by Lautaro Martinez in the final moments for a 3-1 quarterfinal win. These guys never quit. What does it all mean? It means Argentina has now scored a staggering 11 goals in the closing minutes of these World Cup matches. Think about that for a second. Eleven late goals! They have repeatedly saved their best for last. Now, they're heading to the World Cup final on Sunday against Spain. After seeing what they've done against Egypt, Switzerland, and now England, are we really going to bet against them when the biggest prize is on the line? No way. This team plays until the very last second, and you just know they've got one more legendary finish left in them.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.