England (4-2-3-1)
Jordan Pickford faced little opportunity to stop either goal. Despite making a remarkable save from González, that effort is likely to be overshadowed. 7
Reece James effectively controlled his side, proving his selection after injury was well-founded. 7
John Stones was solid defensively until the final moments, where his limited match fitness became apparent. 7
Marc Guéhi, a dependable presence in England’s defense, performed without error and was unfortunate to end on the losing side. 7
Djed Spence has won over his critics with a stunning tackle reminiscent of Bobby Moore to thwart Simeone. 8
Elliot Anderson delivered another energetic performance. He received a booking for a harsh challenge on Messi but showed he can compete at this level. 7
Declan Rice appeared more like his usual self but had to be substituted as England sought to maintain their lead. 6
Morgan Rogers excelled in an unconventional right-flank position, delivering an excellent assist to Gordon. 7
Jude Bellingham started strongly but nearly lost his composure in injury time—ultimately unable to save England. 6
Anthony Gordon has truly emerged during this tournament, and he will cherish the memory of scoring in a World Cup semi-final. 8
Harry Kane contributed with a long pass leading to England’s goal but will feel disappointed with his overall impact. 5
Substitutes: Ezri Konsa (for Gordon, 72) joined the back three but was culpable for Martínez’s equalizer, 5. Dan Burn (for James, 83) struggled once again after previous brief appearances, 5. Nico O’Reilly (for Rice, 83) could not stop Messi’s cross that led to the decisive goal, 6. Ivan Toney (for Stones, 90+3) came on too late to influence the game, 6. Marcus Rashford (for Spence, 90+3) made a valiant effort to equalize, 6.
Argentina (4-3-3)
Emiliano Martínez had no chance with Gordon’s goal but remained largely untested for the remainder of the match. 6
Nahuel Molina struggled against the potent combination of Spence and Gordon down the left side. 6
Cristian Romero quickly confronted Bellingham and demonstrated impressive footwork to evade trouble right from the start. 8
Lisandro Martínez was on edge after receiving a yellow card in the first half, so it was expected he would be substituted. 7
Nicolas Tagliafico had a challenging time dealing with Rogers and was at fault for the goal scored by Gordon. 5
Leandro Paredes set the tone with an early foul on Anderson but failed to assert his usual control in midfield. 5
Enzo Fernández came close to scoring a spectacular goal in the first half before delivering a stunning equalizer that broke England’s spirits. 8
Alexis Mac Allister was incredibly unlucky not to score after hitting both posts; he showcased his best form. 8
Giuliani Simeone was consistently involved but missed a significant opportunity when he was clean through. 6
Lionel Messi displayed extraordinary skill and agility, proving his worth on the grandest stage. He deserves a fitting farewell to his illustrious career. 9
Julián Álvarez was a constant threat to England, creating numerous problems for their defense throughout the match. He is poised to be Messi’s successor. 8
Substitutes: Nicolás González (for Paredes, 65) was denied a goal by Pickford but injected fresh energy into Argentina’s attacks, 8. Nicolás Otamendi (for L Martínez, 72) continues to impress at 38, 7. Gonzalo Montiel (for Molina, 72) significantly improved Argentina’s performance as they sought an equalizer, 7. Rodrigo De Paul (for Simeone, 72) made an impressive impact after being a surprise omission, 8. Lautaro Martínez (for Tagliafico, 81) became the match-winner with a brilliant header, 8.
