However, when Thanos landed on Earth to take the Stone himself, no one could stop him, including Sam, who Thanos effortlessly sent crashing to the ground. After gaining the Mind Stone, and now wielding all six Infinity Stones, Thanos snapped his fingers, ending half of all life in the universe out of existence. As James Rhodes yelled out Sam’s name, looking for him in the aftermath of the chaotic battle, Wilson disintegrated from existence.
Five years after the Blip and Sam’s apparent disappearance, the Avengers traveled back in time to steal the Infinity Stones and reverse Thanos’ Snap. Their time heist worked and they restored half the universe’s population. Sam returned through a portal created by Doctor Strange. Sam contacted Cap immediately, notifying him of his return with Cap’s classic phrase from when they first met, “On your left.”
Alongside the Avengers’ previously lost heroes and allies, Sam fought to keep the Stones from Thanos by battling his army from the air. When Hawkeye protected the Stones and faced an inescapable attack from a Chitauri Gorilla, Sam used his EXO-7 Falcon wings to slay the attacker. He continued to battle Thanos’ forces from the air while the others attempted to get the Stones back through the Quantum Tunnel in Ant-Man’s van across the battlefield. Thanos. They ordered an attack from the air, and Sam managed to avoid the missiles which were quickly diverted to something else high in the atmosphere — the arrival of Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel, who destroyed Thanos’ ship. Unfortunately, Thanos then threw his sword through the time tunnel before the stones went through, nearly losing to Thanos again, Stark shocked him with a Snap of his own, wiping Thanos and his army from existence. Though, this Snap also resulted in Stark’s death. Sam later attended his funeral alongside all the Avengers and allies, paying his respects.
With Thanos defeated, the promise to return the Stones to their rightful place needed to be upheld. Sam offered to go with Captain America on this journey, but Cap declined the offer, but not before he called Sam a good man. When Cap missed his window to return to their time (which was supposed to be five seconds later), Sam became concerned and yelled at Bruce to get him back. Bucky noticed someone in the distance and called over to Sam. The pair approached the figure from behind, with Bucky encouraging Sam to go ahead without him. Sam came upon Cap who was much older. Cap confirmed that after he put the Stones back, he took Stark’s advice to “try some of that life.” Sam expressed his happiness for him but also sadness that he had to live in a world without Captain America. Steve then handed him a brand-new Captain America shield and told him to “try it on.” Sam looked to Bucky for approval, who nodded, and Sam picked it up, commenting that it felt like someone else’s. Steve reassured him that it wasn’t and Sam thanked him, reassuring Steve that he’d to do his best.