Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old colossus with more than 200 caps and a glittering 21-year international career, has never faced England. On Wednesday, the reigning world champions Argentina will meet Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions in Atlanta for a place in the World Cup final – and Messi will finally line up against the old enemy. “It’s special,” he said.
The build‑up has been as combustible as the rivalry that began in 1962, intensified by the 1966 quarter‑final (when Alf Ramsey called Argentina’s players “animals”) and the 1986 Hand of God goal. Tuchel, after England’s 2‑1 extra‑time quarter‑final win over Norway, was scathing. “I was unhappy in every sense,” the German said, citing technical mistakes, lack of speed and admitting his team were “lucky”.
“England face Lionel Messi for the first time in a World Cup semi-final after Tuchel’s scathing criticism of their quarter-final win.”
Harry Kane insisted the criticism was designed to drag out their best. “He knows as much as anyone that it’s not as simple as that,” the captain said. “He’s trying to drag it out of us.” Jude Bellingham, who scored both goals against Norway, reacted more testily: “Yeah, well, whatever. Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Ødegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sørloth.”
Argentina reached the semi‑final by beating 10‑man Switzerland 3‑1 in extra time in Kansas, with further VAR controversy. Up to 25 million fans in the UK are expected to watch on BBC One, while a huge security operation is under way in Atlanta as tens of thousands of Argentina fans vastly outnumber England supporters. The winners meet France or Spain in the final in New Jersey on Sunday.
“We’ve had plenty of drama already,” an England insider said. “But this is the big one.” Bellingham, 23, will come face‑to‑face with Messi – a duel that may define who takes the crown.