More than two decades into his glittering career, Lionel Messi is about to finally play against England for the first time.
Argentina take on their rivals on Wednesday, live on eSPORTY, for a spot in the World Cup final – and until now, Messi had never had the chance to face the Three Lions.
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Why Messi has never played against England
The eight-time Ballon d’Or-winning Argentina captain should have gone toe-to-toe with England some 21 years ago, but he wasn’t able to, as eSPORTY’s Max Scott explained.
Messi had just burst onto the scene at the time of Argentina’s November 2005 friendly against England in Geneva – but a disastrous debut prevented him from making what would have been his second senior appearance for his country.
Speaking to Shebahn Aherne on the eSPORTY World Cup Breakfast, Scott said: “Over 15 years and 35 matches against English opposition, Messi’s scored 27 times.
“So naturally, there’s a fear amongst England fans about the threat he poses.
“But as you say, he’s never played against the England national team. There are two reasons for this.
“The first is when England last played Argentina in a friendly in 2005, Messi was suspended because three months earlier he was sent off just 47 seconds into his international debut.
“In that game against Hungary, he came off the bench, went on one of those trademark mazy, Maradona-esque runs – a signpost for the future – but when trying to escape the clutches of an angry Hungary defender, he kind of lashed out.
“The referee sent him off – I think harshly, but that meant he played no part in the friendly three months after when England won 3-2.”
Wayne Rooney scored the first goal for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Three Lions that night, with Michael Owen’s late brace sealing a thrilling victory.
England haven’t scheduled another friendly against Argentina since then – and there’s a good explanation for that, certainly in recent years.
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Scott continued: “There’s also another reason, though [why Messi has yet to play against England]: especially since winning the World Cup, Argentina have become one of the most commercially viable national football teams in the world; they generate £60million a year in sponsorship alone.
“And with everyone wanting Messi and the world champions to come to town, they charge between three and four million quid to play them.
“And because they’re on the other side of the world, logistically and commercially the FA have basically decided, ‘Well, we’re not forking out for that; let’s wait for the big occasion’.
“World Cup semi-final, here we come.”
England and Argentina’s biggest meeting yet
Wednesday’s crunch clash will be the sixth World Cup meeting between England and Argentina, though they’ve never run into each other this late in the tournament.
You’ll be able to listen to all the action from Atlanta live on eSPORTY.
