Lionel Messi has done almost everything there is to do on a football pitch, but a first still awaits him.
On Wednesday at 20:00 BST in Atlanta, Argentina meet England in a semi-final shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, giving the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner his first-ever game against the Three Lions.
Despite more than 200 caps and 125 goals for Argentina, Messi has never faced England. That long-awaited encounter nearly slipped away when Switzerland seized the initiative in Saturday’s quarter-final, but Argentina ultimately prevailed 3-1 after extra time.
Messi failed to score for the first time at this tournament in that match, yet he still shares the lead in the Golden Boot race with France’s Kylian Mbappe on eight goals and continues to add to his storied World Cup legacy.
BBC pundit Micah Richards said England may outrun Argentina, but Messi’s brilliance changes everything. He argued that the forward is near-impossible to mark because he conserves energy, drifts into dangerous pockets, times his bursts perfectly and couples elite technique with superb spatial awareness and finishing. Above all, Richards highlighted Messi’s aura—comparing it to Jude Bellingham’s—and called it unmatched.
How concerned should England be about Inter Miami’s star? On BBC Radio 5 Live, Chris Sutton suggested Thomas Tuchel and the England players will relish this matchup. He believes this Argentina side isn’t at its best, though it has a knack for finding a way through.
Writing for BBC Sport, former England striker Wayne Rooney noted that Messi offers limited defensive work, which can be a weakness, but he also decides games with moments of quality. Rooney emphasized Messi’s decision-making and said that containing him requires total concentration and clear communication, as he pops up in unusual positions.
According to South American football expert Tim Vickery on 5 Live, this is the semi-final Argentina wanted. He said it would have been unthinkable for Messi to end a 200-plus-cap international career without ever facing the nation many Argentina fans see as their biggest rival. During the second half against Switzerland, supporters were already chanting about England—and there will be much more of that on Wednesday.