Messi's chance to repeat Maradona's feat against England at the World Cup

Tension Between Nations

The Falklands War, known as the Malvinas in Argentina, continues to cause tension between the two nations to this day. These political consequences are often transferred to the football pitch. Diego Maradona never hesitated to admit that the history between these two countries inspired his famous aerial jump at the Azteca Stadium and the shot into the English goal, known as the 'Hand of God.'

The 1986 Scandal

Today such a goal would be disallowed thanks to the VAR system, but in 1986, Tunisian referee Ali Ben Nasser did not see Maradona's hand, and an entire generation of English fans still cannot come to terms with the pain of obvious cheating. Nevertheless, the 1986 quarter-final was determined not only by Maradona's hand. His magical left foot, his balance and grace, and his brilliant run from his own half of the field, where he beat four English defenders before beating the goalkeeper and scoring the greatest individual goal of all time, also played an important role.

Messi in the New Generation

One man managed to elevate the game of football to mythical status through a combination of dark art and charming talent. Now, after 40 years, Lionel Messi, an outstanding compatriot of the late Maradona, stands on the threshold of history. At 39 years old, Messi is redefining the concept of greatness, pushing physical boundaries to new limits. His eight goals and influence on the field support Argentina's hopes of becoming the first team after Brazil in 1962 to win two consecutive World Cups.

Tactics and Fighting Spirit

On paper, the English team looks stronger, but in World Cup playoff matches, victory is not determined by paper. Here, Argentina can be dangerous, even if they are struggling to maintain form and rhythm. However, they still have what many coaches would fight for—unyielding team spirit, with players ready to go the distance for their hero Messi.

Young Argentine Talents

Many young members of the team, including Julián Álvarez, were children when Messi became a global phenomenon in 2008. Now these players are giving their all in the colors of Argentina to ensure that no World Cup playoff match becomes the last for Messi. An old photo of Álvarez with Messi appeared on social media. The forward was only 11 years old when he managed to take a picture with his idol during the 2011 Copa América in Argentina. Eleven years later, in 2022, the magnificent pairing of Álvarez and Messi played a major role in Argentina's victory in the World Cup after 36 years of waiting, which also brought Messi the long-awaited trophy of his life.

Player Condition Before the Match

After an injury, Álvarez started the 2026 tournament in not the best shape, but now he is gaining momentum in the tournament, scoring a stunning right-footed strike from outside the box that secured victory over Switzerland in a tense quarter-final. Messi will again need Álvarez in the semi-final to make those tireless runs into open spaces for Messi's magic. Even one moment of magic from the 'Boy from Rosario' could prove decisive.

Expectations and Pressure

England, on the other hand, must cope with public expectations to end a 60-year period of disappointment, the political drama surrounding this match, the shadow of the 1982 war between the two countries, and the lingering national trauma of Maradona's 'Hand of God'. Harry Kane, England's talisman, remained composed at the press conference before the match. The celebrated forward told reporters: 'I think that is not what you should focus too much on, surrounding the history.' He continued: 'It's all part of the process, and you (the media) will talk about it, and fans will be involved. But from a player's point of view, it's us against a great team.'

Cultural Background of the Match

Notably, Messi, who debuted internationally in 2005, will play against England for the first time. The little magician was freed from the shadow of Maradona's iconic status after the 2022 World Cup victory. However, the media in Argentina, especially an editorial in Clarin, South America's largest newspaper and the second largest in the Spanish-speaking world, reminded the football world that Maradona's legend is once again challenging Messi. Will he be able to meet this challenge, as Maradona did in 1986, and lead Argentina ahead of England?

History of Clashes

This match also has a history of rough tackles. The first unpleasant incident occurred in the 1966 World Cup quarter-final between the two teams. Antonio Rattín, who recently passed away, refused to leave the field after being sent off by the referee. The Argentine midfielder, who did not speak English, claimed that he did not understand the referee's decision and had to be escorted by the police. This match was filled with fouls, which ultimately led to the introduction of red and yellow cards in football.

Expert Predictions

Currently, the media of both countries is not missing any chance to revive old wounds—from the Falklands War to Maradona's 'Hand of God' and David Beckham's red card in the 1998 World Cup round of 16. Kane said all the right things at the press conference, but according to South American football expert Tim Wiki, 'the atmosphere of the game will obviously infect it.' A heated match is expected, and the referee must be extremely vigilant. And this match could not have happened at a more critical time, as Argentina is already under intense scrutiny from the media and fans due to alleged FIFA favoritism. Pure football fans hope that the match will be remembered for a moment of Messi's genius or Jude Bellingham's powerful runs, as well as Álvarez's and Kane's elite finishing, rather than controversial VAR decisions or refereeing.