​There are only a handful of things Lionel Messi hasn’t done on a football pitch. Yet the semi-final clash between Argentina and England at 20:00 BST on Wednesday, broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Atlanta, will mark a brand-new chapter in the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s storied career. Despite more than 200 appearances and 125 goals for Argentina, Messi has never faced England on the international stage, making this meeting with the Three Lions a distinctive test for him and for his team.
There had been a moment in the quarter-finals when it appeared the 39-year-old might be denied the chance to face Thomas Tuchel’s side, as Switzerland seemed to be gaining the upper hand. Yet Argentina ultimately prevailed 3-1 after extra time. Messi did not find the net in that victory for the first time in the tournament, though he remains tied for the Golden Boot with France’s Kylian Mbappé on eight goals and continues to hold the status of the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.
“England can outrun Argentina, but they still have that touch of genius in Messi. They all play for him. Everyone should be excited,” remarked BBC pundit Micah Richards. “Marking him is impossible because he doesn’t run back. He drifts into spaces where you wouldn’t expect him to be. He times his movements perfectly and possesses the finest technique. His spatial awareness is exceptional, and his shot is outstanding.” He added, “Most importantly, he has what Jude’s [Bellingham] got—a certain personality and aura. Messi’s aura is on another level, so this will be fascinating to watch.”
But should England fear the Inter Miami forward? “I think Thomas Tuchel and the England players will relish the prospect of facing this Argentina side in its current form, because this isn’t a great Argentina team, yet they have a habit of finding a way,” BBC Radio 5 Live’s Chris Sutton noted.
On BBC Sport, former England striker Wayne Rooney commented that while Messi contributes little defensively, he can decisively influence games with moments of quality. “He can be a defensive weakness for Argentina, not tracking back, but he can produce big moments,” Rooney said. “His decision-making is what makes him special—he comes alive at key moments and makes the right calls.” He added, “To stop Lionel Messi, you must maintain concentration and communicate with your teammates about positional awareness you might not usually consider.”
The encounter with England represents the semi-final Argentina has long craved, and South American football expert Tim Vickery told 5 Live that the nation’s fans have waited to see Messi square off against their fiercest rivals in what would be a defining late-stage match. “Lionel Messi could not go through an international career of more than 200 matches without facing the team that Argentina fans regard as their greatest rival,” Vickery said. In the second half, the crowd’s energy surged, with fans bouncing and singing, underscoring the significance of this cross-continental clash and the storybook potential it holds as Messi leads his country into a decisive, high-stakes encounter.