​’It’s Messi magic again!’: How Lionel Messi’s assists delivered Argentina back to World Cup final originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.ATLANTA — When it mattered most, when his team’s World Cup survival was on the line — when extending his international career for one more game was on the line — Lionel Messi was definitely not walking.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe was in a full sprint, winning the ball. He was making the decisive pass with his right foot, a perfect delivery to Lautaro Martinez for the game-winning goal. He was jumping, pumping his fists and shouting, celebrating in the corner with his teammates.With two assists, Messi helped send Argentina to the World Cup final, coming from behind with goals in the 85th and 92nd minutes to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday.It was yet another dramatic finish for Argentina, and the team’s second remarkable comeback in three games, after rallying from two goals down to beat Egypt in the Round of 16.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup ticketsFor much of the game, especially in the first half, Argentina seemed more interested in fouling than football. Messi was essentially a non-factor. At one point, he tried to blast a shot through a wall of players, trying to force something, anything to happen.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs England sat back to defend in final minutes of the game, Argentina’s chances started to build. With what we’ve seen in this World Cup, perhaps it was inevitable.“For large parts of the game, we dealt with him really well,” Harry Kane said after the game. “But as always with the most dangerous players in the world, when they have the ball in the final third, they can create something. And he did that again today. He’s obviously one of the best players in the world for a reason.”MORE ARGENTINA-ENGLAND NEWS: Lionel Messi, Argentina add to World Cup comeback historyHow Thomas Tuchel’s cowardly tactics cost EnglandWhere Argentina loss ranks among England’s World Cup disappointmentsWill England fire Thomas Tuchel after blowing semifinal?Assist No. 1: The first assist started innocently enough, as Messi played a corner on the ground to Rodrigo De Paul, who was about 10 yards outside the penalty box. De Paul passed back to Messi, who then started dribbling toward the box, taking on two players. With all attention on Messi, he passed to Enzo Fernandez, who was all alone outside the top of the box, and blasted a shot clear of Jordan Pickford.Assist No. 2: Messi chased down an Alexis Mac Allister shot that had hit the left post and ricocheted out to the right side, winning the ball from Djed Spence, who had contained Messi and Argentina for most of the game. He gathered the ball, and awaited the double team to come. He cut to his right toward the end line and sent that cross with his right foot, not the magical left, perfectly s