Messi's two assists seal Argentina's comeback win over England as Henry calls him 'unstoppable'

Lionel Messi produced a match-winning display as Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 at the 2026 World Cup, setting up both goals in a stunning second-half comeback to reach Sunday’s final against Spain. Trailing to Anthony Gordon’s 52nd-minute strike, Messi turned the game with a precise pass for Enzo Fernandez’s 85th-minute equaliser and then delivered the cross from which Lautaro Martinez headed home the winner in stoppage time.

The performance took Messi’s tournament tally to eight goals and four assists in seven appearances, and he was awarded the Player of the Match prize for the fifth time at this World Cup. His former Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry, watching on as a pundit, struggled to find adequate superlatives.

“He reminded us he is human; he missed some penalties, four out of eight,” Henry said. “Then he reminds us again he’s not human. I’ve played with him as you just mentioned. What happens with Leo, sometimes… don’t wake up the beast. He’s just unstoppable when he goes into that mood. When his team needs him, he raises his game.”

Henry suggested England’s early goal may have been the catalyst. Going 1-0 up and appearing to rattle Argentina, the Three Lions inadvertently triggered something in the 39-year-old. “I’ve seen him in training,” Henry added. “When the coach doesn’t call a foul, he switches. He goes and gets the ball and scores three goals in a row. Next time, call a foul!”

Before Messi took control of the match, he was briefly involved in a confrontation with Jude Bellingham. The pair exchanged words after referee Ismail Elfath awarded a foul, with Bellingham visibly frustrated as he approached the Argentina captain. Messi responded with a dismissive wave and turned away, though he continued to glance back at Bellingham as the exchange played out. Post-match, Bellingham played down the incident, saying the two were simply disputing a foul call.

Messi now stands one win away from a third World Cup winners’ medal, having previously lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022. Henry, for one, would not bet against him adding to his legend on Sunday. “This is Hollywood stuff,” he said. “This guy writes history with his feet, not with his hands.”