Messi magic has sent Argentina crashing into the World Cup final, while England are left picking up the pieces after a heart-wrenching 2-1 defeat. The Three Lions' dream of glory was brutally extinguished by the Argentine maestro's masterclass, as he conjured up a second-half resurrection that left the English reeling.
It was a tale of two halves at the packed stadium, with England flying out of the blocks and taking an early lead. But as the momentum shifted in Argentina's favour, they began to sense blood - and Messi, ever the predator, pounced on the opportunity.
The turning point came when England, seemingly content to protect their slender advantage, retreated into a more defensive posture. It was a gamble that backfired spectacularly, as Messi seized the initiative and began to weave his magic once again. The Argentine superstar produced an individual piece of brilliance, leaving the English defence for dead before slotting home what proved to be the winning goal.
England manager Gareth Southgate was left to ponder what might have been in the post-match press conference. "We started well, but perhaps we sat too deep in the second half," he acknowledged. "Against a player like Messi and a team of Argentina's quality, you get punished for that."
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, meanwhile, hailed his team's character and spirit. "We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we never gave up," he said with pride. "Messi, as always, showed why he is the best. We are delighted to be in the final once again."
The result means Argentina will now battle for their second consecutive World Cup title - but England's fans are left to wonder what might have been if their team had shown more guile and determination in the face of Messi's genius.