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Argentina star Lionel Messi has disclosed that England is the only major football powerhouse he has never played against in his entire career.
The Argentine star expressed excitement about facing them in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, calling the historic match-up a unique game.
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Recall that Argentina secured their place in the last four with a 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland on Saturday, while England also needed an additional 30 minutes to overcome Norway, 2-1.
The meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday will be the latest chapter in one of international football’s most storied rivalries, although it will mark Messi’s first appearance against England in an Argentina shirt.
“Playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are always special,” Messi told ESPN Argentina.
“It’s the first time I’m going to play against them. I’ve played against everyone except England, so it will be nice for that reason too.
“We’ll experience it for what it is: a World Cup semi-final against a great team, and we’ll try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again.
“It’s a match-up with a lot of history, but we’re professionals. We’ll approach it like every other game and give everything until the end.”
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Messi also took the opportunity to praise the Argentine squad’s mentality, which remains competitive even after their recent world and continental triumphs.
“This squad never stops pushing; they always want more and strive to be on a par with the best. What this team has achieved is no mean feat: winning the World Cup, winning the Copa América and reaching the semi-finals once again,” he added.
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40 yrs ago, a great Argie number 10 destroyed England at the world cup.
Maradona scored twice to silence the vociferous English fans. For his second goal, he dribbled through the heart of the English team to bag the greatest goal in world cup history. A great humiliation for England. They haven’t forgotten it. They will never forget it.
Now, 40 yrs later, another great Argie number 10 has England in his sights.
Will history repeat itself?
However, this England squad has shown itself to be a most formidable opponent. For the first time in a long while, England are a real contender for the trophy. And when you have the kind of players at England’s disposal, expectation and belief rises.
For England, this is a chance to inflict some pain on the Argies. They will be eager to wrestle the world cup from Messi’s grasp.