The World Cup semifinals are here, and apparently so is a brand new conflict for Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. He’s publicly backing England to knock out Lionel Messi and Argentina. That’s a tough look for a guy who clearly respects the GOAT.
Fox Sports caught up with Crow-Armstrong and asked who he’s pulling for in Wednesday’s semifinal between England and Argentina. His answer was immediate, even if it sounded a little conflicted.
“You never wanna see Messi get eliminated from anything,” he said. “That guy is one of the best athletes ever and just a joy to watch. But I got to see England do it. I love what Jude Bellingham’s doing. Harry Kane still leading the squad. So I think England should do it.”
So there it is. Crow-Armstrong is picking the Three Lions over the defending champions. And honestly, the reasoning tracks.
Why England Actually Has a Shot
Messi is still the star of this tournament at 38 years old. He’s got eight goals so far, tied with Kylian Mbappe for the Golden Boot lead. Mbappe will be playing in the third-place match against whoever loses this game. But Argentina isn’t just Messi. They’re a team that knows how to win ugly when they have to.
England though, feels different this time. Crow-Armstrong pointed to Bellingham, who has been an absolute monster in midfield. Not just goals, but the guy is everywhere. Long passes, through balls, defensive stops. He’s doing it all. And Kane is finally playing in a system that actually fits him.
Thomas Tuchel has built this team around getting the best out of Kane and Bellingham. Kane drops deep, Bellingham pushes forward, and the wingers — guys like Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke — are serious threats. That’s a big change from the Gareth Southgate era, where Kane sometimes looked isolated and the attack felt predictable.
Kane is England’s all-time leading scorer with 85 goals in 120 appearances. But this is the first tournament where he’s looked like the complete player. The system is designed to let him drift, find space, and create. And it’s working.
Still, Picking Against Messi Is Risky
Crow-Armstrong is a baseball player. He’s not exactly a soccer analyst. But he’s also a pro athlete who knows what it means to bet against a legend. Messi has been defying logic for two decades. Picking England to knock him out is bold. It might even be right.
But if Messi pulls off another miracle, Crow-Armstrong is going to hear about it. Social media does not forget.
The winner of England vs. Argentina faces Spain in the final. That’s a huge game regardless. But for Crow-Armstrong, the real drama is Wednesday. England or Messi. He made his choice. Now the rest of us get to watch.
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