Messi and Bellingham set to decide England-Argentina World Cup semifinal

England and Argentina will meet in the World Cup semifinal in Atlanta on Wednesday, a clash that features a direct contest between Argentina's veteran forward Lionel Messi and England's 23-year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham. Both players have been central to their teams' progress to the final four.

Messi, playing against England for the first time, has scored eight goals in the tournament and remains the all-time World Cup top scorer with 21 goals. He is looking to add a second title for Argentina and further cement his status as one of the sport's greatest players. Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said, "Trying to draw inspiration from what Diego did is difficult. Only Leo can do that."

Bellingham, who has netted six goals, including two in each of the last two knockout rounds, is regarded as one of England's key talents. After a period of uncertainty over his selection, coach Thomas Tuchel praised him as "world class" following his performance against Norway. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford noted the team's confidence, stating, "Everyone talks about Messi because he’s one of the GOATs of the game, but you can’t look past the ability and talent we have in the squad."

The fixture also revives a historic rivalry that extends beyond sport, recalling past World Cup encounters and political tensions. England captain Harry Kane reflected on a memorable penalty-shootout win over Argentina in 2002, describing it as a personal highlight.

The outcome of the semifinal is likely to hinge on which of the two No. 10s can exert the greater influence on the day, as both nations aim to reach the final.