A supporter of Argentina’s national team holds up a photograph of Diego Maradona following Argentina’s victory over England in a World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, in Rosario, Argentina, the birthplace of soccer legend Lionel Messi. Messi assisted on both of Argentina’s late goals in a 2-1 win. (Sebastián López Brach/The New York Times) By TARIQ PANJA On the face of it, the mission was clear: Win two games, a World Cup semifinal and final. Since England’s last World Cup…
