Lionel Messi is poised to face England for the first time in his international career when Argentina meets the Three Lions in the World Cup semi-finals. The highly anticipated match is scheduled for Wednesday at 20:00 BST in Atlanta and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Despite an illustrious career spanning over 200 appearances for Argentina and 125 goals, Messi has never before played against England. This unique encounter was secured after Argentina's 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Although Messi did not score in that match, he remains a leading contender for the Golden Boot with eight goals in the tournament, also holding the record for the most goals in World Cup history.
Former England striker Wayne Rooney noted that while Messi's defensive contributions are minimal, his ability to influence games in critical moments is undeniable. "He can be a weakness defensively for Argentina," Rooney stated. "He doesn't run back, but he has big moments a bit like with Jude Bellingham. He has big moments and moments of quality. The thing with Messi is his decision-making – he comes to life in moments of the game and he makes the right decision."
Rooney also emphasized the importance of concentration and communication for England's defense when marking the Inter Miami forward. "Marking Lionel Messi is about concentration and communication. Communicating with your team-mates about picking up positions you might not usually pick up."
BBC pundit Micah Richards expressed excitement about the prospect of Messi facing England, highlighting the player's exceptional qualities. "We should all be excited," Richards said. "There are very few things Lionel Messi has not done on a football pitch... Marking him is impossible because he doesn't run back. He goes into little spaces where he shouldn't really be. He switches on at the right times and he's got the best technique. His spatial awareness is fantastic. He's got a great shot."
Richards further described Messi's influence as having an unparalleled "personality and aura" on the field. "Messi's aura is just next level, so it's going to be interesting."
Conversely, Chris Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, suggested that England might relish the challenge. "I think Thomas Tuchel and the England players will be relishing the prospect of playing this Argentina team in its current guise, its current form, because this isn't a great Argentina team but they do have a habit of finding a way."
South American football expert Tim Vickery told BBC Radio 5 Live that this semi-final matchup against England is precisely what Argentina's fans desired. "Lionel Messi couldn't possibly end an international career, over 200 matches, without playing the team that Argentina fans see as their biggest rival," Vickery explained. He added that chants of "he who doesn't jump is an Englishman" were heard from fans during the quarter-final, indicating the historical rivalry and the expected atmosphere for the upcoming match.