'That's why he's the king' - Messi's masterclass on the right wing sends Argentina to World Cup final

BBC Sport looks at Lionel Messi's masterclass on the right wing to knock England out of the World Cup.

In a World Cup semi-final that lived up to its billing as a final before the final, Lionel Messi delivered a performance for the ages. Deployed on the right wing, the Argentine maestro dismantled England's defense with a blend of dribbling, vision, and clinical finishing that left fans and pundits alike in awe. From the opening whistle, Messi was a constant threat. In the 15th minute, he picked up the ball on the right, jinked past two defenders, and curled a left-footed shot that crashed against the crossbar. It was a warning England failed to heed. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute. Messi received a pass from Di Maria on the right, feinted past Luke Shaw, and delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post where Julian Alvarez headed home. The goal was a testament to Messi's unselfishness and precision—he could have shot but chose to set up his teammate. England's attempts to double-team Messi in the second half only opened up space for others. In the 55th minute, Messi exchanged a one-two with De Paul on the right, burst into the box, and was tripped by John Stones. The referee pointed to the spot, and Messi calmly slotted the penalty past Pickford to make it 2-0. England pulled one back through Harry Kane, but Messi's influence never waned. In the 88th minute, he shielded the ball near the right corner flag, shrugging off three England players to run down the clock. The commentator's words echoed around the stadium: "That's why he's the king." Argentina held on to win 2-1, booking their place in the final for the first time since 2014. Messi finished with a goal, an assist, and a drawn penalty, earning the man-of-the-match award. His performance on the right wing was a masterclass in attacking football, proving that at 35, he remains the most decisive player on the planet. Now, Messi stands one win away from the World Cup title that has eluded him. Argentina will face either France or Morocco in the final. If Messi continues in this form, the trophy may finally be his.

'That's why he's the king' - Messi's masterclass on the right wing sends Argentina to World Cup final

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