Lionel Messi has been pictured savouring Argentina’s dramatic World Cup semi-final victory over England on Wednesday night.
Argentina booked their place in the final after edging past England in a fiery and hard-fought encounter which saw Lionel Scaloni’s side commit 15 fouls and receive three yellow cards.
England had taken the lead through Anthony Gordon, but Messi once again proved the difference, the 39-year-old setting up both of Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez’s goals as the reigning world champions powered past Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Tempers flared after the final whistle, with tensions spilling over between the two sides. England’s Jude Bellingham became involved in a heated exchange with Argentina substitute Valentin Barco as players and staff gathered on the pitch.
This morning, Rodrigo De Paul shared a photo on Instagram showing himself and Messi relaxing in bed at the team hotel alongside the caption ‘Buen diaaaaa!!’ (good morning!).
The image showed Messi unwinding with mate tea and a packet of Havanna Leo biscuits, while De Paul sat alongside him. Both wore satisfied expressions as they enjoyed a moment of calm before turning their attention to the final.
Messi was pictured unwinding with mate tea and a packet of Havanna Leo biscuits with Rodrigo De Paul sat alongside him
Messi was later photographed enjoying some downtime with his team-mates in Atlanta
The 29-year-old was instrumental in his side’s progression to the World Cup final, providing both assists as Argentina struck late to break the hearts of their English rivals
Messi was later photographed enjoying some downtime with his team-mates in Atlanta.
After the final whistle, Messi reserved praise for the Argentina fans inside the stadium, but added that he believed the last-gasp victory had stemmed from their opponents’ dwindling fight.
‘We felt a lot of emotion, and when we were drawing, we needed the support of the fans, because we saw that we could win it in 90 minutes,’ he said.
‘Because we already had the goal, because we entered through the inside, the outside, because we created opportunities with crosses, through line passes, through the inside.
‘And we felt they didn’t want it anymore and we just kept coming, that’s why after the 1-1, the crowd helped us again once more, and as I said, we are happy because it was a close match.
‘We always want to win, and also because it takes us to play another World Cup final.’
Meanwhile Thomas Tuchel has come under heavy criticism for his tactics following Gordon’s opening goal in the 55th minute, with the manager bringing on a raft of defensive substitutes to see out the game.
Muller, who worked under Tuchel at Bayern Munich for a brief spell between 2023 and 2024, said in a video posted on X: ‘Argentina played a hell of a game and I cannot believe and understand how England approached this game, especially after they’re leading.
‘I cannot understand how they invited Argentina to play one cross after the other in perfect crossing positions.’
Casillas, who lifted the World Cup with Spain in 2010, slammed England’s ‘cowardly’ approach after they managed to hold onto just 12 per cent possession from going ahead to conceding the second goal.
‘England score the goal and then sit back – cowardly approach,’ the former Real Madrid star posted on X.
‘They haven’t left their own box and have allowed Argentina to come forward more. The logical outcome happens.
‘England lost the match all by themselves with that approach. They let Argentina do whatever they wanted. That can’t happen. The final will be incredible.’
