World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi set for first meeting with England
There is little that Lionel Messi hasn’t done on the football field.
But the semi-final between Argentina and England in Atlanta at 8pm (BST) on Wednesday, live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, will provide the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner with a completely new experience.
Despite playing more than 200 games for Argentina and scoring 125 goals, Messi has never faced the Three Lions.
A spell was sought to deny the 39-year-old a first match against England as Switzerland kept the momentum heading into Saturday’s quarter-final, but Argentina prevailed 3-1 in extra time.
Messi failed to score in the win for the first time in this tournament, but he still leads the Golden Boot race with France’s Kylian Mbappe having scored eight goals and is the World Cup’s all-time top scorer.
BBC commentator Micah Richards said: “England can get past Argentina but they have the little genius Messi. They are all playing for him. Everyone should be excited.”
“It’s impossible to mark him because he doesn’t run back. He gets into small areas where he shouldn’t be. He comes in at the right time.” [and] He has the best technique. His spatial awareness is amazing. He has a great shot.
“Most importantly, he has the qualities that Jude has. [Bellingham] That’s what makes Jude so great, he has personality and aura.
“Messi has the most aura of any football player. Messi’s aura is at the next level, so it will be interesting.”
How afraid should England be of the Inter Miami striker?
“I think Thomas Tuchel and the England players will relish the prospect of playing this Argentina team in its current form, in its current form, because it’s not a great Argentina team but they have a habit of finding a way,” BBC Radio 5 Live’s Chris Sutton said.
Former England striker Wayne Rooney said on BBC Sport that Messi contributes little defensively but can define plays with quality in important moments.
“It could create a defensive weakness for Argentina,” Rooney said.
“He doesn’t run back, but he has big moments like Jude Bellingham. He has big moments and quality moments. The thing about Messi is his decision-making; he comes alive in moments of the game and makes the right decision.”
“Marking Lionel Messi is about concentration and communication. It’s about communicating with your teammates to take positions that you usually don’t get.”
South American football expert Tim Vickery told 5 Live that the match against England is the semi-final Argentina wants.
“It is not possible for Lionel Messi to end his international career, which has included more than 200 appearances, without playing for the team that Argentina fans see as their biggest rival,” Vickery said.
“In the second half the fans were jumping up and down and chanting ‘he who doesn’t jump is an Englishman’. You’ll hear much, much more of that on Wednesday.”
