Lionel Messi has done just about everything in football. Eight Ballon d’Or awards. A World Cup trophy. More goals than most people can count. But here’s something he’s never done: played against England in a competitive match.
That changes on July 15, 2026, when Argentina meets England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final.
The match that never happened, until now
Argentina and England haven’t faced each other in an official match during Messi’s entire international career. The last time the two nations met was a friendly back in November 2005, which England won 3-2. Messi was 18 at the time.
Now he’s 39, likely playing in his final World Cup, and the football gods have finally delivered the matchup everyone’s been waiting for. Argentina, the defending champions, punched their ticket to the semis by beating Switzerland 3-1 in the quarterfinals around July 11, with Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez delivering standout performances.
