Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, is about to do something he has never done in more than 200 international appearances: face England. The 39-year-old Argentina captain will lead his team against the Three Lions in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday 15 July in Atlanta, a match that carries immense historical weight for both nations.
Argentina reached the last four by beating 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in extra time, setting up a showdown with Thomas Tuchel's England, who earlier defeated Norway. Messi failed to score for the first time this tournament in that quarter-final, but still leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals – level with France's Kylian Mbappé – and is the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer.
“Why Lionel Messi has never faced England before, ahead of their World Cup semi-final showdown.”
The reason Messi has never faced England is a quirk of international football scheduling. Despite a career spanning two decades, eight Ballon d'Or awards, and a World Cup-winning captaincy (in 2022), Argentina and England have not been drawn together in any tournament until now. Messi made his senior debut in 2005, and the two sides last met in a competitive match at the 2002 World Cup – before his time. They also met in friendlies during Messi's early career, but he was not in the squad. As a result, this semi-final will be his first encounter with English football's national team.
For UK readers, this match is a rare event. Messi's club career has seen him face Premier League teams in the Champions League – most famously against Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City – but never the Three Lions. Former England striker Wayne Rooney, analysing on BBC Sport, noted that Messi can be a defensive weakness because he doesn't track back, but his decision-making and quality in key moments define games. BBC pundit Micah Richards added that marking Messi is 'impossible' due to his spatial awareness and aura, comparing his impact to Jude Bellingham's.
Messi himself described England as a 'powerhouse' and said playing them would be 'special' because it is the only top nation he has never faced. In an Instagram post after the quarter-final, he wrote: 'This team never stops believing. We're in the top four in the world again!!! Let's f*g go.' Argentina are aiming to retain the title for the first time in their history, and Messi stressed that their sustained success is 'not normal' and should be enjoyed.
Q: Why has Lionel Messi never played against England before? Because Argentina and England have not met in any competition during his senior international career, which began in 2005. They last played in 2002, and Messi was not involved in subsequent friendlies.
Q: How many goals has Messi scored for Argentina? He has scored 125 goals in more than 200 appearances, making him Argentina's all-time leading scorer and the top scorer in World Cup history.
Q: What is the significance of this match for Argentina? Argentina are defending champions and could retain the World Cup for the first time. They are also aiming to extend their run of reaching the semi-finals, having won the 2022 title and the 2024 Copa América.
What happens next: The semi-final takes place at 20:00 BST on Wednesday 15 July in Atlanta, live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The winner will face either France or Spain in Sunday's final. For Messi, this is a historic first – and possibly last – chance to face England on the international stage.