Lionel Messi to Face England for the First Time in Historic World Cup Semi-Final

Shahzaib Dyer
Published July 14, 2026

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has described his upcoming World Cup semi-final against England as a special occasion, revealing that it will be the first time he has ever faced the Three Lions in an international match.

Argentina advanced to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 victory in the quarter-final against Switzerland. England went into a blockbuster clash with two of football’s biggest rivals, after reaching the last four with a 2-1 extra time win over Norway.

Argentina and England will battle it out for the top spot on the list in Atlanta, USA, on the highly anticipated World Cup semi-final on July 16.

Lionel Messi excited to face England for the first time

After Argentina’s defeat of Switzerland, the 38-year-old Lionel Messi said that England is one of the top teams in the world of football.

Messi also stated that the match against England is important as it is the only big national team that he has never faced in his glittering career.

“I have played against almost every top national team, but England was the only one left. This will be a unique experience for me,” Messi said.

Messi focused on World Cup semi-final

The Argentina captain said that he is viewing the game as an important World Cup semi-final and is completely concentrating his efforts on preparing his squad for the challenge.

Messi confirmed that Argentina come into the game looking to give their best and to clinch a World Cup berth.

Argentina vs England rivalry

Argentina and England have arguably the most legendary match-up in international football. They didn’t get much better when the two legends faced off in the 1986 quarter-final, when Diego Maradona scored the historic “Hand of God” goal before making one of the football world’s great one-on-one goals in Argentina’s effort to secure the win.

Football fans the world over will be watching closely as Lionel Messi and Argentina face England in a World Cup semi-final, with another chapter to be added to the scorebook.

Shahzaib Dyer

Shahzaib is content writer with over five years of professional experience. He is creative, hardworking, and possess extensive research skills. Being analytical in approach is highly reflected in his writing.