England vs Argentina: Player Ratings from the 2026 World Cup Semifinal Thriller

Five minutes from elimination, Argentina appeared set to exit the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Anthony Gordon's early second-half strike put England ahead. Yet, the defending champions turned the tide in a stunning finish, with Lionel Messi orchestrating a dramatic turnaround by assisting two late goals. Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, the latter coming off the bench, both found the net as Argentina edged out England 2-1 to reach the final.

Thomas Tuchel's side faltered after taking the lead, retreating too soon and inviting relentless pressure. Messi exploited the opportunity, leading Argentina’s spirited response.

Match Details

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GAReferee: Ismael Elfath (USA)

Starting Lineups

• England (4-2-3-1): Pickford (GK), James, Stones, Guehi, Spence, Rice, Anderson, Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane
• Argentina (4-4-2): Emi Martinez (GK), Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico, Simeone, Mac Allister, Paredes, Fernandez, Messi, Alvarez

England Player Ratings

All ratings are out of 10.

Substitutes

• Ezri Konsa (72') - 2: Defensive introduction failed to stem Argentina’s momentum; beaten for the winning goal.
• Dan Burn (82') - 3: Limited impact late.
• Nico O'Reilly (82') - 4: No passes attempted.
• Ivan Toney (90'), Marcus Rashford (90') - N/A: Too late to influence outcome.

Coach Rating

Thomas Tuchel - 2England controlled much of the match but retreated prematurely after taking the lead. Replacing an attacking player with a defender invited relentless pressure that Argentina capitalized on. The decision cost England dearly.

Argentina Player Ratings

Substitutes

• Nico Gonzalez (65') - 8: Solid performance on the wing with important defensive work.
• Gonzalo Montiel (72') - 7: Helped push Argentina forward late.
• Nicolas Otamendi (72') - 8: Perfect passing and possession maintenance.
• Rodrigo De Paul (72') - 8: Key midfield reinforcement post-substitution.
• Lautaro Martinez (81') - 8: Scored the winning goal with a late header.

Coach Rating

Lionel Scaloni - 7Argentina looked second-best early but his substitutions paid dividends. Bringing on Lautaro Martinez proved decisive, while team resilience capitalized on England’s collapse.