Lionel Messi has faced almost every major footballing test in his Argentina career. On Wednesday, at 39, he plays England for the first time.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal between England and Argentina kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, 19:00 GMT, at Atlanta Stadium. For Indian viewers, that means 12:30 AM IST on Thursday, July 16. It will be another chapter in one of the World Cup’s most loaded rivalries, and the first meeting between the two nations since England’s 1-0 win in the 2002 group stage.

For England, the stakes are simple: another chance to reach their first World Cup final since 1966. For Argentina, it could be Messi’s last dance on this stage, and his first test against English opposition in a tournament he has shaped for two decades

Messi's record, Bellingham's surge

Messi has scored 8 goals in 6 matches at this World Cup, putting him in the Golden Boot race with Kylian Mbappe. He has also pushed his all-time World Cup tally to 21 goals, extending his place at the top of the tournament’s scoring list.

England is the one missing line in his Argentina story. “I have played against everyone except England, and it is special because they are a major nation, a powerhouse,” Messi said, per Al Jazeera.

Jude Bellingham has built a run that deserves the same spotlight. The 23-year-old has scored 6 goals for England, including back-to-back braces against Mexico and Norway in the knockouts. That made him the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to score twice or more in consecutive World Cup knockout games.

Bellingham and captain Harry Kane, who also has 6 goals, have carried England’s attack. Together, they have scored 12 of England’s 13 goals at the tournament. As TUI reported when the semifinal pairing was confirmed, both teams needed extra-time drama to reach this stage.

One More Night To Watch Messi

That is why fans may watch this semifinal a little differently. Messi has not officially said this is his final World Cup, but at 39, every knockout match now carries that feeling. A widely shared training clip also appeared to show him sitting alone before Argentina’s session, a quiet image that quickly became part of the build-up online. For many supporters, this is no longer just about records or rivalries. It is about enjoying what could be one of Messi’s last nights on the World Cup stage.

The road to Atlanta was never smooth

Neither side has coasted through the knockouts. Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the round of 32, came back from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2, and then defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals.

England’s path has been just as tense. They beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1, held off Mexico 3-2 despite playing with 10 men, and then needed extra time to get past Norway 2-1. This is England’s fourth semifinal in the last five major tournaments, but only their fourth World Cup semifinal ever. They have reached the final only once, in 1966.

England manager Thomas Tuchel believes the size of the occasion can lift his side. “A set-up like [Argentina] will bring the best out of us and the best out of our players,” he said, per Sky Sports.

The numbers barely pick a favourite

Opta’s supercomputer model, as of Tuesday, gave England a 39.1 percent chance of winning in regulation, Argentina 31.6 percent, and a 29.3 percent chance of the match going to extra time, per Al Jazeera. That makes this close to a coin flip, with England only slightly ahead before kickoff.

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England go in without Jordan Henderson, who has a broken arm, and Jarell Quansah, who remains suspended. Declan Rice has returned from illness and is expected to be available, while no major injury concern has been reported in Argentina’s camp. For a broader look at who else has made the final four, see TUI’s rundown of the 2026 semifinal lineup.

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Whatever happens in Atlanta, this match closes a 24-year World Cup gap between two football powers with history, pressure and unfinished business. One team moves within one win of ending a 60-year wait. The other could be watching its greatest ever player take one of his final steps on the World Cup stage.