Lionel Messi finally faces England in World Cup semi-final after 20-year wait

Lionel Messi will finally face England in a World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, ending a 20-year wait to play one of football's most storied rivals. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has never before faced England in his 205-game international career, despite Argentina’s long-standing rivalry with the Three Lions.

Why has Messi never played England before?

Messi’s absence from England-Argentina fixtures stems from a 2005 red card in his debut. He was sent off just two minutes into a friendly against Hungary, missing a 3-2 friendly loss to England three months later. Since then, the two teams have avoided each other at five World Cups due to tournament structure and seeding.

How close have England and Argentina come to meeting?

The closest they came was in 2010, when England would have faced Argentina in the quarter-finals if they had beaten Germany. Instead, they lost 4-1. Both teams have only reached the quarter-finals together twice in Messi’s career (2006 and 2022), with this being the first semi-final meeting.

What makes this match historic?

This is the first time both England and Argentina have reached the World Cup semi-finals in the same tournament since Messi’s debut. FIFA’s new seeding rules for 2026 increased the chances of this clash, as top teams were kept apart in the draw until the later stages.

How has Messi performed against English clubs?

While Messi has never faced England’s national team, he has a storied history against English clubs in the Champions League. His performances against Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players to grace the competition.