Trae Young reacts as Messi’s Argentina stuns England to reach World Cup final

Trae Young stunned by Messi’s last-gasp winner for Argentina

Trae Young was among the NBA stars left in disbelief after Lionel Messi’s Argentina edged past England 2-1 in a dramatic World Cup semifinal on Wednesday night.

What happened in Atlanta

Argentina booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 semifinal victory over England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Lionel Messi set up Lautaro Martínez for the 89th-minute goal after a frantic sequence in the box.

England had led through Anthony Gordon’s 52nd-minute strike, but Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th to force extra drama. Messi’s pass split the defense and Martínez powered a header past Jordan Pickford to complete the comeback.

Why Trae Young and Jalen Brunson lost their minds

Trae Young, the Washington Wizards guard, fired off a tweet to his 3.6 million followers: “Messi with the RIGHT! This game is (fire).” His Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson, who knows a title run when he sees one, posted: “Argentina is unreal.”

Josh Hart piled on from the Atlanta crowd, channeling Thanos: “Messi is inevitable.” The NBA reaction videos lit up social feeds within minutes of the final whistle.

The stakes for Messi’s Argentina

The win keeps Argentina on course to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to defend a World Cup crown. They face Spain in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

England, meanwhile, will play France in the third-place playoff on July 18. Kylian Mbappé will line up for the French side after his brace against Belgium in the semis.

What comes next for Trae Young

Young’s own season resumes in October when the Wizards open their 2026-27 campaign. For now, he’s focused on the spectacle of Messi’s latest masterclass: a reminder that elite athletes rewrite history in every sport they touch.