Throughout his legendary career, 39-year-old Lionel Messi has achieved nearly every milestone possible, yet he has never faced the England national team. That changes this Wednesday during the World Cup semi-final. Messi, who recently earned his 200th cap during a group-stage win over Algeria, remains focused on guiding Argentina to another championship match.
His international journey began in 2005 at age 18. His debut under Jose Pekerman against Hungary was cut short by a controversial red card just 90 seconds after entering the pitch. That suspension forced him to miss a friendly against England in Geneva, and the two teams have not squared off since. The upcoming match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be their first meeting in decades.
Reflecting on the match, Messi expressed excitement about playing against such a football powerhouse, particularly at this high-stakes stage. Having led Argentina to glory in Qatar four years ago, he aims to emulate the impact of Diego Maradona, whose historic 1986 performance against England remains etched in football history.
Messi currently holds the record for the most goals in World Cup history with 21 scores across 32 appearances. As Argentina looks to become the first nation to defend their title since 1962, Messi is hoping for a third final appearance in four tournaments. For England’s Nico O’Reilly, facing the player he considers the greatest ever is a unique opportunity he is eager to embrace.
