2026 World Cup: Leo Messi and His First-Ever Match Against England

Four teams remain in the running for the World Cup: France, Spain, England, and Argentina. France vs. Spain is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, at 9:00 p.m. The following day, at the same time, England will face Argentina. This matchup has a lot of history.

First and foremost, it’s a historic rivalry. No one has forgotten the 1986 World Cup match featuring the famous “Hand of God,” not to mention Diego Armando Maradona’s masterpiece of a goal—the most special gem in World Cup history. Lionel Messi hopes to leave his mark against the English as well.

For the 39-year-old Argentine star, this will be his very first-ever match against England. They could have faced off in a friendly in Gibraltar the year Lionel Messi made his debut with the Albiceleste. It was November 2005, and a friendly match between England and Argentina was scheduled in Gibraltar, but since he had been sent off in his first game with the Albiceleste in Hungary in August, La Pulga served his suspension on that very occasion, “missing” what could have been his first appearance against the Three Lions.

He’ll certainly be on the field Tuesday night with the goal of reaching the World Cup final again and sweeping aside England, just as Diego Armando Maradona did a full 40 years ago.