Lionel Messi is ready to face England for the first time in his legendary career when Argentina meets the European giants in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final in Atlanta this Wednesday. Despite facing every other World Cup-winning nation over a two-decade career. The 39-year-old Messi has never crossed paths with England on the pitch.
Argentina’s Football Association (AFA) labeled the clash "the match fate owed Messi." The closest he came was a 2005 friendly which he missed due to a suspension.
"It's special because they're a powerhouse" Messi said after Argentina’s grueling 3-1 extra-time quarter-final win over a 10-man Switzerland squad. Messi provided an assist for Alexis Mac Allister’s opener called his team's sustained success "not normal" after winning consecutive titles. "It's not easy to come back from being world champions and remain at this level. We must enjoy and value it."
Argentina’s journey to the final four has been dramatic with featuring three consecutive extra-time or comeback wins against Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland. Late goals from Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez sealed their semi-final spot after a controversial VAR-induced red card for Switzerland's Breel Embolo shifted the momentum.
The upcoming fixture resumes one of soccer's most fierce with emotionally charged rivalries shaped by both sporting drama and the legacy of the 1982 Falklands conflict.
Historic World Cup flashpoints include Antonio Rattin’s 1966 red card, Diego Maradona’s infamous "Hand of God" goal in 1986 and David Beckham’s 1998 dismissal and subsequent 2002 penalty revenge.
This semi-final also marks the first time since 1990 that the final four consists entirely of former champions and setting the stage for another historic chapter.
