Messi counterattacks: "We are the best in the world, no matter who it hurts"

The current world champions were once again behind on the scoreboard. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 55th minute, but Lionel Messi was decisive in the Argentine reaction by assisting the goals of Enzo Fernández, in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez, in the 47th minute of the second half.

After the match, Messi spoke about the emotion of reaching another tournament final.

"All finals are special. They are World Cup finals, and each one has a different value. It is very beautiful to experience this again. What this group has achieved is crazy, reaching two consecutive World Cup finals", he said, in an interview reproduced by the Argentine newspaper Olé.

The captain also highlighted the personal importance of playing in the third World Cup final of his career.

"Playing in three World Cup finals is something that few players have achieved, especially given the way this World Cup happened and what we experienced in this game. Incredible things happened," he said.

Messi also asked fans to enjoy the moment and stated that the sequence of results proves the strength of the Argentine team.

"Keep enjoying it. What this group has achieved is crazy. After being world champions, we are in a final again. We are the best in the world in these four years, no matter who it hurts and whatever they say. This shows that what we did was not by chance and that no one gave us anything", he declared.

“The Argentine people didn’t want to lose to England”

For Messi, the semifinal had greater weight than a simple dispute for a place in the final, because of the historic rivalry between the two teams.

"During the anthem, we started to feel different, special things, without forgetting that it was a game. Nobody wanted to lose, and the Argentine people really wanted that joy. They didn't want to lose to England, and we experienced the match that way", he stated.

The player highlighted the team's ability to react once again after going behind.

"We knew it wouldn't be just another victory. It was a result that the Argentine people wanted and that we also wanted. We managed to recover again when the situation got difficult. We didn't stop trying and we played hard when we were losing", he said.

Messi also stated that he never stopped trusting the group, even in the face of doubts about the physical state of some players.

"A lot of people didn't trust this team, but I never stopped believing. I know what these players are capable of. When we're together, we find strength where there doesn't seem to be any. We could arrive with athletes injured or in doubt, but this group always competes at the limit", he declared.

The number 10 also highlighted the sequence of decisions disputed by Argentina in recent years.

"We reached another final. I think it's five in a row, two of them in the World Cup, and that's impressive. This group doesn't surprise me, because I knew what we were capable of. When we're together, we always deliver something more", he concluded.

World Cup finalists, Spain and Argentina have balanced records in direct confrontations

Teams faced each other 14 times, most in friendlies, with six victories for each side. There was only one previous World Cup meeting, in 1966, won by the South Americans