“Not just another win”: Messi on England win, another world final | OneFootball

Lionel Messi analyzed Argentina’s National Team miraculous comeback to defeat England 2-1 and qualify for the 2026 World Cup final. After the match, the captain admitted that this clash had a very deep meaning for all Argentine people and went into detail about the powerful emotions felt from the moment of the national anthem.

“Everything we experienced was incredible, right from the start, like we said. Even though it was a football match, when we started walking out and during the anthem we felt something special, and the group felt it too. It wasn’t just another win, it was an important win that the Argentine people wanted, and so did we, and it put us into another World Cup final,” the number 10 began.

With their place in the decisive match secured, the Argentine captain did not hide his joy over the national team’s resilience and character in the face of adversity: “It’s crazy to play in two straight World Cup finals and, well, this group is incredible. Today we went after it again when things had gotten tough, we never stopped believing, never stopped trying. With our play, today we played some great football when we were behind on the scoreboard. We pinned them back in their own end and it’s an enormous joy.”

He also highlighted the value of this historic run and the pride the squad gives him, brushing aside any previous doubts about the team’s physical condition: “The truth is, what we’re experiencing is crazy, the way things are unfolding. Honestly, before the World Cup started I trusted this group and knew we would be among the final four, that we would fight for it, and in the end we made it into another final. I think it’s five in a row, two straight World Cup finals… it’s incredible. This group doesn’t surprise me, I know them and we know what we were capable of. Maybe people had doubts because of how we arrived, because we had players pushed to the limit and dealing with problems, but when this group comes together and stays united, it always gives something extra. They feed off each other and find strength from nowhere to give their maximum.”

When leaving a message for the fans, Messi repeated the same call for unity and joy that he made unforgettable during the decisive stages of Qatar 2022: “Enjoy this moment, just like we’re enjoying it. Today we’ve made it into another World Cup final, we’ve once again placed Argentina among the two best teams. We’ve spent four years enjoying being world champions, and now we’re back in the final. I hope they enjoy it the way they’ve been doing. Today we took the last step and achieved what we all wanted: to go all the way, to play in a World Cup final and, as always, it will be whatever God wants.”

Finally, the star took a moment to look ahead to Sunday’s imminent clash against Spain, an opponent whose roots and style of play he knows perfectly well: “A huge national team, with great players, with a real style of play. A team I know well, a football philosophy they’ve been using for many years. I know the players too, I’ve faced them, I follow them, several are at Barça, a club I love and follow. It’s a special match, a World Cup final. I imagine everything will be very evenly matched.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.