The 2026 World Cup semifinal will give Lionel Messi the match that was missing from his international career, as he will face the English national team for the first time wearing Argentina's shirt, when the two teams meet next Wednesday in Atlanta, USA.

This matchup is considered one of the greatest classics in world football, especially after the historic clash between the two teams in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, when Diego Armando Maradona led Argentina to a 2-1 victory, scoring two goals, one of which was with a handball.

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Despite Messi's long career, England remained the only major team he had not faced with La Albiceleste, whether in official matches or friendlies, or even during youth stages, until the anticipated semifinal finally hands him this matchup.

More than 40,000 readers of the Argentine site 'TyC Sports' had chosen, in a survey conducted in 2024, the English team as the best major European opponent they wanted to see against Argentina in a friendly match, before the matchup finally came true, but on a much bigger occasion: the World Cup semifinal.

The last meeting between the two teams dates back to a friendly match played on November 12, 2005, in Geneva, Switzerland, which saw Messi present with the national team delegation, but he watched from the stands due to a suspension he suffered after being sent off in his first international appearance against Hungary.

Messi was 18 years old at the time, and watched his national team take a 2-1 lead through Hernán Crespo and Roberto Ayala, after Wayne Rooney had scored a temporary equalizer for England, before the English turned the match around in five minutes with two goals by Michael Owen, ending with a 3-2 victory.