Read 3 minutesUpdated: July 13, 2026 08:54 AM IST
Lionel Messi will face England for the first time in his international career when Argentina take on their arch-rivals in their second FIFA World Cup semi-final, 24 years after they last crossed paths at the global stage. The 39-year-old captain has been central to the world champions’ campaign so far, while former England winger Joe Cole believes the Three Lions will ‘put Messi to bed’ in Wednesday’s clash at the Atlanta Stadium.
The former Chelsea midfielder observed that despite making it to a second consecutive World Cup semi-final on the back of miraculous comebacks over Egypt and Switzerland in the knockout stages, Argentina will fail at England’s pace and attacking prowess.
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“We have to put Lionel Messi to sleep,” Cole said on The Rest Is Football podcast. “We’re going to put him to sleep.”
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said Cole “can’t say it”, confirming the 44-year-old’s prediction: “We are 100 per cent.”
“Joe Cole”:
Por sus comentarios sobre Lionel Messi y el partido de Inglaterra contra la Selección Argentina pic.twitter.com/QBGl4aw4pc— ¿Por que es tendencia? (@porquetendencia) 12 July 2026
“I’m saying now, England are going to the World Cup final, we’ve got a lot of momentum for Argentina and we’re going to beat them, I can feel it in my bones.”
Former Scotland international Ally McCoist did not entirely agree with Cole’s criticism, declaring England the “third-best team” in a tournament that also included France, Spain and Argentina.
However, there is some relief.
“But the good news is that you’re playing a team that I think you’re better than.
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“Defensively, Argentina are not great but going forward, we know Messi is capable of doing something anywhere and that’s the thing we have to be careful of. But that’s how much of a game we expect there.”
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‘A special game’
Reflecting on the prospect of facing England for the first time in his illustrious career, Messi said: “It’s a special match. It’s my first time.
“I’ve played against everyone except England. It’s a different game, against a team with a great tradition and to be part of a match of this caliber in a semi-final is always fantastic,” he told reporters after the 3-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland.
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Messi failed to score for the first time in nine consecutive games across two World Cup editions as Argentina were given a tough challenge by the determined Swiss on Saturday night. A Dan Ndoye strike against Argentina in the 10th minute after Messi assisted a McAllister header brought Switzerland level before the end of regulation time. A wonder goal from Julian Alvarez in the 112th minute gave the Swiss hopes a boost, and sub Lautaro Martinez sealed the deal with a third goal in the dying minutes.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham’s brace helped England beat Norway for the first time since 2018 to reach the last four.