A favourable opponent. Messi boasts an impressive record against one of England's players
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
On Wednesday, July 15, Argentina and England will meet in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Albiceleste star will once again come up against an opponent he has enjoyed facing in the past.
Details: According to Opta, Lionel Messi has faced England defender John Stones three times, with all three meetings coming in the UEFA Champions League. The Argentine has scored four goals in those matches, including a hat-trick in October 2016. On average, he scores against Stones once every 68 minutes.
Meanwhile, a new World Cup record has been set, as for the first time in the tournament's history, two players from the same national team have scored at least six goals at a single edition. Both Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six goals to their names.
Reminder: Scaloni is preparing a stunning reshuffle ahead of the battle for a place in the final. One of the team's key players will start on the bench.
