"Messi" opens up about "Maradona" in heaven after Argentina defeats England to reach the 2026 World Cup final.
On 16 July 2026, Lionel Messi, captain and star of the Argentina national team, gave an interview after the 2026 World Cup semi-final in which they came from behind to beat England 2-1 in the dying minutes. This victory allowed the "defending champions" to advance to defend their title against Spain on Sunday, 19 July.
Lionel Messi had the chance to follow in the footsteps of Argentine legend Diego Maradona, who won the 1986 World Cup after beating England 2-1 in the quarter-finals, making history with the "Hand of God" goal and the skillful solo strike called the "Goal of the Century" in the same match.
After the game, Messi spoke about Diego Maradona, who passed away in 2020: "Diego was truly an amazing person. I never thought about comparing myself to him. For me, he is the greatest of all."
"We shared great moments together during the 2010 World Cup. He performed brilliantly, and we talked about opponents and matches throughout that tournament."
"Today, wherever he is, he must be happy and enjoying all of this, considering how important the national team was to him and the legacy he left behind. This is truly a gift for him."
Regarding the victory over England, amid historical tensions stemming from the 1982 Falklands War—known in Argentina as "Las Malvinas"—Messi said, "Although it was just one match, we felt something special. We felt it from the moment we sang the national anthem."
"The fans wanted this win more than anything because it means so much to face England in the semi-finals and to reach the World Cup final for the second consecutive time."
"I know how happy people in Argentina are. My mother and family sent me photos of people celebrating. I am proud and very happy to bring this special joy to all Argentinians."
"No Argentinian wanted to lose this game. The entire World Cup tournament has been incredible, especially considering the significance of the semi-final against England. No one wanted to be the loser today."
