Lionel Messi has spent over two decades carving a path through international soccer, facing every World Cup-winning nation from Brazil to France, but one notable opponent has always been missing from the list: England.
That will change on Wednesday when Argentina meet the European side in a World Cup semifinal in Atlanta, a heavyweight clash that Argentina’s FA (AFA) described on its website as “the match fate owed Messi.”
The 39-year-old Messi has played Brazil, Uruguay, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands during his career, yet never crossed paths with England.
The closest he came was a friendly in Geneva in November 2005, the last time the two sides faced each other.
Argentina lost 3-2 as Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, who scored twice, overturned goals from Hernan Crespo and Walter Samuel.
Messi, however, was suspended for the game against England after getting a red card on his international debut against Hungary earlier that year.
Less than 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute in his first match for Argentina, Messi, who was only 18 at the time, was fouled by Hungary’s Vilmos Vanczak.
Messi retaliated against the Hungarian opponent, which resulted in a direct red card, denying him a chance to play the next international match against England.
The former Barcelona player is now excited to be facing England for the first time in his career.
“It’s special because they’re a great team, a powerhouse, and it’s always nice to play a team like that, a match of this kind,” Messi told reporters after Argentina’s 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Switzerland in extra time on Saturday.
“We need to rest because we come from a lot of wear and tear, which the group obviously feels, and arrive in the best possible condition to keep doing what we’ve been doing: competing,” he added.
Argentina survived a third consecutive dramatic knockout match, after defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time in the round of 32 and staging a comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 in the last 16 after trailing 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining.
Messi contributed with an assist for Alexis Mac Allister’s opening goal against Switzerland, but it was the first World Cup match since Argentina’s 2-0 group-stage win over Poland at Qatar 2022 in which Messi did not score.
“England can outrun Argentina but they just have that little genius Messi. They all play for him. Everyone should be excited,” BBC pundit Micah Richards said. “Marking him is impossible because he doesn’t run back.”
The England clash will add another chapter to one of soccer’s most emotionally charged rivalries, shaped by decades of sporting drama and political tension, while giving Messi a place in a fixture that has produced some of Argentina’s most enduring soccer memories.
Source: Khaleej Times