England have beaten one co-host nation on their own turf at the Azteca, seen off Erling Haaland and Norway in the quarter-finals, and now face the holders — Argentina — in the World Cup semi-finals. In their way stands Lionel Messi, playing England for the first time in a career spanning 206 international caps.

"It has never happened to me against England," Messi said after Argentina's last-16 victory. "It is the first time so it is going to be a special match."

Maradona's shadow looms large

The fixture is drenched in history — from Sir Alf Ramsey's infamous "animals" remark in 1966 to Diego Maradona's Hand of God and Goal of the Century in Mexico twenty years later. War, empire, Michael Owen sprinting clear, and David Beckham's moment of madness against Diego Simeone in 1998: no rivalry in football carries more baggage.

Now, in a twist that appears almost too perfectly scripted, Messi faces England at 39 — the same age bracket at which Maradona immortalised himself against this very opponent. Even the strip colours, Argentina in light blue and white against England in white, will echo that afternoon in 1986. Gianni Infantino could not have written it better.

A remarkable World Cup campaign

Messi arrived at this tournament and immediately erased any doubts about his fitness and hunger. His hat-trick in Argentina's opener against Algeria set an electric tone, and he went on to score in the next four matches. A blank in the win over Switzerland represents his only goalless outing of the competition so far.

His tally of eight goals puts him level with Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot standings — a renewed rivalry that stretches back to their Qatar showdown. Yet goals alone do not capture his full contribution. Messi leads the entire tournament in chances created and big chances created, ranks joint-top for set-play chances, and stands clear of every other player in through-balls completed. He has also attempted 16 shots from outside the penalty area — five more than any rival.

How Thomas Tuchel's side can stop him

Neutralising Messi is not a question of cutting off supply in the way it was with Haaland against Norway. Messi does not need the ball in dangerous areas to manufacture danger — he drifts, finds space, and makes play from seemingly harmless positions. Against Egypt and Switzerland, he moved to the right wing whenever central space became congested.

That pattern points to England's left flank as a critical battleground. Djed Spence, who came off the bench against Norway, delivered an eye-catching display — winning a penalty (later overturned by VAR), completing an aggressive ball-winning interception in the final third, and finishing with as many touches in the opposition box as Harry Kane despite being an 86th-minute substitute. His one-on-one defensive abilities have drawn widespread praise, and only John Stones made more clearances in that match.

Thomas Tuchel must also account for Argentina's supporting cast. Julian Alvarez scored a stunning goal against Switzerland, and Lautaro Martinez provided the assist for Enzo Fernandez's winner over Egypt. Argentina are far more than a one-man team.

One more defining moment?

At 39, Messi has evolved into a player who shapes games through flashes of brilliance rather than 90-minute dominance. "We have come here through a lot of effort, playing a long game again," he acknowledged after the Switzerland match. "And, well, sometimes it shows."

Should he conjure a decisive moment against England — whether a goal, an assist, or a moment of pure magic — the legend of Messi, already towering, will reach still greater heights. For England, stopping him is the assignment. Nobody at this World Cup has managed it yet.