A game that looked like it would go down in English football folklore instead ended in all too familiar despair as the dream of football coming home for the first time since 1966 ended in Atlanta on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
"I'm gutted. I'm gutted for the boys, I'm gutted for everyone, the team, the staff, the fans. We played a good game for the large majority of it, England captain Harry Kane told BBC Sport.
"Once we went 1-0 up we seemed to just try and hold on which at this level is just not enough, so I'm gutted.
"We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it is, so to fall short like today is just gutting."
Anthony Gordon's strike had England on the cusp of a first men's World Cup final since Sir Alf Ramsey's heroes lifted the trophy on home soil, but the reigning South America and world champions never quit.
Willed on by a febrile fanbase at a rocking Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the magic veteran star Messi, they finally found a way past Thomas Tuchel's men when Enzo Fernandez slammed home five minutes from time.
The 39-year-old teed up the midfielder for that goal and swung over the added-time cross which Lautaro Martinez headed home to break English hearts and set up Sunday's (5am Monday AEST) showpiece against European champions Spain.
Having lost back-to-back European Championship finals under Sir Gareth Southgate, this was another case of so close yet so far for England.
Tuchel went too defensive too early as, just like Croatia at this stage eight years ago, they threw away a chance to reach the final.
"I cannot believe it, it is so emotional here," Inter Milan's Martinez said.
"When my father bought me my first football boots, I dreamt of scoring this goal ... It unbelievable what we have achieved.
"We just kept fighting, we put them under so much pressure. After their goal, England dropped back and we had more space and more chances to overturn the result."
With DPA.
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