Harry Kane praised Lionel Messi after England’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end with a 2-1 defeat against Argentina in the semi-finals. England were within touching distance of a place in the final after Anthony Gordon gave them the lead, but Messi once again proved decisive by setting up both Argentine goals in a dramatic comeback.

The defeat ended England’s hopes of reaching the World Cup final, while Argentina booked a place in the tournament’s showpiece match for the second edition in a row.

Lionel Messi still delivering when it matters most

England held firm for much of the contest and looked set to protect their advantage after Gordon’s 55th-minute strike. However, Argentina found another gear late in the game, with Messi at the heart of the turnaround.

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In the 85th minute, the Argentine captain played a clever short corner before picking out Enzo Fernandez from around 25 yards. Fernandez struck a powerful effort that beat Jordan Pickford and brought Argentina level before the South Americans completed the comeback.

After the match, Kane acknowledged Messi’s influence and explained how difficult it is to stop the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner when he gets space in dangerous areas.

“Leo is still performing at the highest level. I felt that for large parts of the game, we dealt with him really well. But as always with the most dangerous players in the world, when they have the ball in the final third, they can be place-setters. And he did that again today. He’s obviously one of the best players ever for a reason,” Kane told reporters.

Harry Kane left heartbroken after England’s exit

Speaking to Sky Sports, the England captain admitted the defeat was difficult to accept after the effort put in by the squad throughout the tournament. “I’m gutted,” he said.

“I’m gutted for the boys, I’m gutted for everyone, the team, the staff, the fans. We played a good game for the large majority of it. Once we went 1-0 up we seemed to just try and hold on which at this level is just not enough, so I’m gutted. We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it is, so to fall short like today is just gutting,” he added.

Kane explains what changed after England took the lead

Kane revealed that England’s plan after scoring was not to sit back. According to the striker, head coach Thomas Tuchel wanted his side to push for another goal instead of protecting the one-goal advantage.

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However, Argentina’s relentless pressing made it increasingly difficult for England to regain control of the match. “After the goal, whether they were putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man-to-man, it was just wave after wave. The lads were putting blocks in but in the end it was not enough”, he said.

“The boys were always ready for any moment in the game. When we went ahead the messaging was to go again and get another goal. Once they scored their two goals it was to try and find something but we couldn’t find any momentum to get back in the game,” he added.

Argentina reach another FIFA World Cup final

The victory sends Argentina into their seventh FIFA World Cup final, extending another remarkable chapter in the nation’s football history. It is the second-highest total of World Cup final appearances by any country, behind only Germany.

It also marks only the second time Argentina have reached consecutive World Cup finals. Their previous back-to-back appearances came in 1986 and 1990. With another final now secured, Argentina will have another opportunity to compete for football’s biggest prize after overcoming England in one of the tournament’s most dramatic semi-finals.

FAQs

What did Harry Kane say about Lionel Messi after England’s defeat?

Harry Kane praised Messi, calling him one of the greatest players ever and credited him for making the difference with two crucial assists.

How did Argentina reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 final?

Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 in the semi-final, with Lionel Messi assisting both goals to seal a place in the final.