Lionel Messi is set to face England for the first time in his legendary international career when Argentina meet the European giants in the FIFA World Cup semi final on Wednesday. The highly anticipated encounter in Atlanta is expected to be one of the biggest matches of the tournament, with football fans around the world eagerly awaiting the showdown.
Despite a career spanning more than two decades, Messi has played against every other World Cup winning nation, including Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Uruguay, but has never faced England in an official or friendly international match. The upcoming semi final will finally complete that remarkable list.
The last meeting between Argentina and England took place in a friendly match in 2005, where England secured a 3 to 2 victory. Messi did not feature in that game after receiving a red card on his international debut against Hungary earlier that year.
Speaking after Argentina’s 3 to 1 extra time victory over Switzerland in the quarter finals, Messi described the upcoming contest as a special occasion. He praised England as one of the world’s strongest football nations and said his team would focus on recovery before preparing for the crucial match.
Argentina have reached the semi finals after overcoming a series of difficult knockout matches. They defeated Cape Verde in extra time during the Round of 32, staged a dramatic comeback against Egypt in the Round of 16, and then eliminated Switzerland to book their place in the final four. Although Messi provided an assist against Switzerland, it was his first World Cup match since Qatar 2022 in which he did not score.
Football analysts believe the semi final could become another memorable chapter in the historic rivalry between Argentina and England. Former England defender Micah Richards praised Messi’s influence, saying his brilliance makes him nearly impossible to defend against. With a place in the World Cup final at stake, the match promises world class football, intense competition, and another opportunity for Messi to add to his extraordinary legacy.
