Argentina are through to the World Championship semifinals after a 2-1 win over England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and Lionel Messi was at the heart of it. The Inter Miami CF forward played the full 90 minutes and posted a Sofascore Rating of 8, built on a creative display that delivered both assists.

It was level at the break before the game opened up in the second half, and Messi stepped into the role of chief supplier. He finished with 94 touches and controlled much of Argentina’s attacking rhythm. The stage was big, the stakes were bigger, and he handled both with typical calm. England came in ranked 4 in the world, Argentina 1, and the contest was managed by referee Ismail Elfath. In a match decided by margins, Messi’s final ball was the separator. Not a bad return for a 90‑minute shift in a knockout tie.

Vision first: creativity that decided it

This was a passing masterclass with purpose. Messi completed 43 of 54 passes, including 35 of 45 in the opposition half. He logged 4 key passes and created 2 big chances, and both turned into assists. His expected assists came in at 0.76, which mirrors the quality of the chances he laid on.

He mixed his delivery too. From 9 crosses, 3 found a teammate, and he hit 2 of 4 long balls accurately. The pass selection was varied and steady rather than flashy, which suited a tense semifinal. Sofascore’s model reflected his influence, with his passing contributing the bulk of his on-ball value. He attempted just 1 shot and it was blocked, so his impact arrived through service rather than finishing. In short, he read the game, picked the moments, and supplied the goals Argentina needed.

Touches and carries that set the tempo

Beyond the assists, Messi’s involvement showed up in his carrying and territory gain. He had 36 ball carries for a total distance of 254.3 meters. Those carries moved Argentina forward by 116.1 meters overall, with his best single carry progressing 27.7 meters. He produced 2 progressive carries that covered 46.1 meters combined.

It was steady orchestration more than solo runs. His dribble contribution registered positively in Sofascore’s model, and he drew 2 fouls as England tried to slow him down. He was caught offside once while probing England’s line, a small price for constant threat between lines. The picture was of a playmaker dictating tempo and territory. With 94 touches, he offered a reliable outlet whenever Argentina needed control. That supply line mattered as the game tilted after halftime.

The battle within the game

Semifinals bring duels, and Messi met that side of the job too. He won 12 duels and lost 8, and he came out on top in 9 of 11 total contests. He also chipped in with 1 successful tackle and 2 ball recoveries, bits of work that help close out knockout matches. One aerial duel went against him, which will not surprise anyone who has watched him manage games from the ground.

There were turnovers in the mix, as is normal for high-usage creators. He was dispossessed 5 times, had 6 unsuccessful touches, and recorded 33 instances of possession lost. One error led to a shot for England, a reminder that risk and reward live close together when you carry the ball this much. He also had one shot of his own blocked. The net result still leaned clearly positive, with the creative output more than offsetting the giveaways. In tight games, winning your share of the little battles makes the big moments possible.

Season form with Argentina, in numbers

The semifinal showing fits a strong season body of work with the national team. Messi’s Sofascore Rating average sits at 9.0 across 7 appearances this season. He has 8 goals and 4 assists, for 12 goal contributions in 620 minutes. His expected numbers back it up, with 5.26 xG and 3.90 xA.

Creativity has been a theme. He has 26 key passes and 19 accurate crosses at a 38.8% clip. His passing accuracy stands at 81.9% with 258 accurate passes from 315. On the ball, he has 24 successful dribbles at a 68.6% success rate and has been named in the Team of the Week 5 times. The shot profile is balanced too, with 34 total attempts and a 23.5% conversion rate, including a free kick goal. He has even clocked a top speed of 30.91 km/h. It all adds up to a star still shaping big games, as confirmed on Sofascore and on the biggest stage.

Sofascore users can dive into every touch, duel and carry from this match, plus live momentum and heatmaps, all in one place on the platform.