Lionel Messi has faced just about everybody in world football over the last two decades. Brazil, Germany, France, Netherlands, Portugal — he’s seen them all. But there’s one major national team that’s been missing from his resume. England.
That changes Wednesday night in Atlanta.
Argentina booked their spot in the World Cup semifinals with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland on Saturday. England got there too, needing their own extra period to beat Norway 2-1. And now Messi finally gets his crack at the Three Lions in a competitive match for the first time.
“Playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse,” Messi told ESPN Argentina after the Switzerland game. “Matches against powerhouses are always special. It’s the first time I’m going to play against them. I’ve played against everyone except England, so it will be nice for that reason too.”
Messi is 38 now. This is likely his last World Cup. And the fact that he’s never lined up against England tells you something about how weird international soccer can be. The two nations have a long, complicated history in this tournament, but Messi has somehow never been part of it.
The history Argentina and England share
You can’t talk about this matchup without acknowledging 1986. Diego Maradona scored both the Hand of God goal and that incredible solo run in the same World Cup quarterfinal. It’s one of the most famous games in the sport’s history. Then in 1998, David Beckham got sent off in a round of 16 match that Argentina won on penalties. Those moments hang over every Argentina-England meeting, even if none of the current players were alive for most of them.
Argentina forward Jose Manuel Lopez acknowledged the weight of the fixture but kept it simple. “It’s a match-up with a lot of history, but we’re professionals. We’ll approach it like every other game and give everything until the end.”
Julian Alvarez, who scored a stunning extra-time goal to sink a 10-man Swiss side, said England will test them in a different way. “We’re very proud to be among the top four teams in the world. England have impressive players and are a great team. Now we need to recover well and prepare for the game.”
What’s at stake for Messi and Argentina
Argentina won the World Cup in 2022. That was the one Messi needed to cement his legacy as the greatest of all time, and he got it. But winning a second one at 38 would be something else entirely. It would push him past even his own legend in some ways.
England, meanwhile, is chasing its first World Cup since 1966. They’ve come close a few times — the final in 2022, the semifinal in 2018 — but haven’t gotten over the line. A win over Messi’s Argentina in the semis would be a massive step.
Messi said they’ll treat this like any other game. “We’ll experience it for what it is: a World Cup semi-final against a great team, and we’ll try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again.”
It’s going to be loud in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It’s going to be intense. And for the first time in his career, Messi will look across the field and see three lions on the chest. That alone makes this one worth watching.
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