Lionel Messi is set to face England for the first time in his international career as Argentina take on the Three Lions in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final.
Atlanta (US): Argentina captain Lionel Messi is set to face England for the first time in his international career when the reigning champions take on the Three Lions in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday (local time).
Despite representing Argentina for more than two decades and playing against every other World Cup-winning nation, Messi has never faced England. The highly anticipated clash comes with a place in the World Cup final at stake, adding another chapter to one of football's greatest rivalries.
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"The truth is, it's special," Messi told reporters after Argentina's 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland secured their place in the semi-finals.
"It's a special match because it's my first time. I've played against everyone except England. And it's special, as I said before, because they're a big team, a powerhouse. It's always nice to play against teams like that, in matches like this, and especially in the semi-finals of a World Cup," he added.
The 39-year-old has previously faced football giants including Brazil, Uruguay, Germany, Italy, Spain and France, but England remained the only major football nation missing from his international record.
The closest he came to playing England was in a friendly in Geneva in November 2005, when Argentina lost 3-2. However, Messi missed that match after being sent off on his senior international debut against Hungary earlier that year.
Argentina booked their place in the last four with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland. Messi provided the assist for Alexis Mac Allister's opening goal from a corner before Julian Alvarez's stunning strike and Lautaro Martinez's late finish sealed victory.
The match also marked the first World Cup game since Argentina's group-stage victory over Poland in Qatar 2022 in which Messi did not find the back of the net.
The reigning champions have shown remarkable resilience throughout the knockout rounds, edging Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time before overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16.
"We'll try to get some rest because we've been under a lot of pressure and it's taken its toll," Messi said.
"The squad feels it, but we're in the best possible shape to carry on doing what we've been doing: competing."
The semi-final also revives one of football's most iconic rivalries. England and Argentina have not met in a competitive fixture since the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when England claimed a 1-0 victory.
More than two decades later, Messi now has the chance to write a new chapter in that rivalry as Argentina seek a place in the final and attempt to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title.
(With ANI inputs)
Published: 13 Jul 2026, 08:15 pm IST
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