England have never faced Lionel Messi, but Robbie Fowler believes the 2026 World Cup could be the ideal moment for that long-awaited encounter with Argentina’s legendary forward. The former England striker told GOAL that the reigning 2022 champion should not intimidate Thomas Tuchel’s squad, and a potential meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal should be viewed as an exciting challenge rather than a threat.

When did England last face Argentina?

Barcelona icon Messi has represented Argentina since 2005, earning 198 caps and netting 116 goals. Despite his long international career, clashes between Argentina and England have been rare in recent decades.

The last time England met their historic rivals—who famously eliminated them from the 1986 World Cup through Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and again in 2002 after David Beckham’s red card—was in November 2005, only a few months after Messi made his debut for the Albiceleste.

Messi did not feature in that game and has avoided lining up against the Three Lions ever since. As he nears the twilight of his record-breaking international journey, speculation continues that he could retire from international football this summer.

Would England want to face Messi or steer clear of him?

This could be England’s final chance to test themselves against the footballer who lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar. The question remains: would they relish that encounter or prefer to avoid the Argentine magician altogether?

When asked, Fowler—speaking exclusively to GOAL through BetMGM—answered, “If I’m being honest, I’d like to see that matchup now because I don’t think Messi is the same player we saw in his prime.”

He added, “I don’t mean that disrespectfully, because when you talk about the greatest footballers ever, Messi has to be in that conversation. But right now, this might be the best time to face him.”

Fowler further noted, “For England, it’s about competing against great players and great teams, but ultimately, the focus has to be on England getting the right results. I don’t think they’ll worry about who they’re playing as long as they go deep into the tournament.”

Why a reunion with Ronaldo and Portugal should be welcomed

The same attitude applies to Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains active at 41. The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend has previously caused England heartbreak, notably in the penalty shootouts of Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

Asked whether England would prefer to avoid facing Ronaldo again, Fowler remarked, “Portugal have been something of a nemesis for England, with Ronaldo playing key roles in tournaments and matches over the years.”

He continued, “Whatever happens at the World Cup—whether it’s Argentina or Portugal—you have to play the best teams eventually. You need to be competitive. For me, it’s like the FA Cup in England: people often say they don’t want to face big teams early on, but I always looked forward to it because you have to beat them at some point.”

“It’s going to be tough, no doubt,” Fowler said. “But if you truly want to be the best, it doesn’t matter when you face them—you still have to beat them. Whether it’s Portugal, Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, or Argentina, England must back themselves, and I’m sure that’s exactly what this squad will do.”

England fixtures: Friendlies and World Cup group-stage opponents

Before any showdowns with Messi or Ronaldo, England first need to progress through a group featuring Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. They will also play warm-up friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica before the tournament kicks off.

If the 2026 generation hopes to replicate the heroics of the 1966 team and end the Three Lions’ long wait for major silverware, they might have to overcome Argentina or Portugal along the way. Fowler is confident that Tuchel’s men will embrace those challenges head-on.