Lionel Messi and England have never shared a pitch at international level — until now. The two sides meet in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, making it the first time in 205 Argentina appearances that Messi will face the Three Lions. If Argentina are eliminated on Wednesday, England could be the nation that brings the curtain down on his extraordinary international career.

Before that historic clash, it is worth examining what English football knows about Messi at club level. During his years at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, he faced Premier League sides in the UEFA Champions League on multiple occasions — and the results make for uncomfortable reading for English fans.

Arsenal

Messi played six Champions League games against Arsenal, winning four, drawing one, and losing once — that sole defeat coming in 2011. He scored nine goals across those six matches, including a four-goal haul in the 2009/10 quarter-finals that served as a reminder of what Arsenal were up against.

Chelsea

Chelsea gave Messi more trouble than almost any other English club. Across 10 Champions League meetings, he won only twice — his opening encounter in 2006 and his final one in 2018 — drawing six and losing two. That 2018 last-16 clash was notable for another reason: it was the first time Messi had ever scored against Chelsea, with the first leg at Stamford Bridge finally breaking his duck against the Blues.

Liverpool

The 2018/19 Champions League semi-final produced both highs and lows for Messi against Liverpool. In the first leg he scored twice, his second a breathtaking free-kick that also marked his 600th career goal. The return leg, however, is one that Barcelona — and Messi — would rather forget, as Liverpool overturned the three-goal deficit to advance to the final in Madrid. Messi's tense exchanges with Andy Robertson throughout that night became one of the subplot of the tie.

Manchester City

Manchester City have been Messi's most frequent English opponents and, by some distance, his least successful. He played eight times against them, winning six, and scored seven goals. His 2017 encounter against manager Pep Guardiola's City side produced a hat-trick in a 4-0 Barcelona victory. Later, after joining Paris Saint-Germain, he scored his first goal for the club against City in a group stage match at the Parc des Princes.

Manchester United

Few performances define Messi's Champions League legacy as clearly as the 2011 final at Wembley against Manchester United. He dominated the contest from the opening whistle, turning in a display that left Rio Ferdinand struggling to contain him. He had done something similar two years earlier in Rome in 2009, scoring his most celebrated header to hand Barcelona the European Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur

Messi faced Tottenham Hotspur twice during the 2018/19 Champions League group stage. The first meeting took place at Wembley, where Tottenham were temporarily based, and Messi treated the national stadium as his own — scoring twice in a commanding performance. When Tottenham visited the Camp Nou, they held on for a draw, a result that was enough to send them through as group runners-up.

Which current England players have faced Messi?

Several players in England's current squad have personal experience of facing Messi in the Champions League. John Stones has done so the most often, appearing in four games for Manchester City against him. Harry Kane featured in both legs when Tottenham faced Barcelona in the 2018/19 group stage. Marcus Rashford was part of the Manchester United side that faced Barcelona in that season's quarter-finals. Jordan Henderson captained Liverpool on the remarkable night they completed their semi-final comeback. Finally, Djed Spence faced Messi while on loan at Rennes in 2023, playing 78 minutes of an away win against Paris Saint-Germain — a match in which a certain Desire Doue also featured, a player who now stars in the PSG attack.