Argentina’s Lionel Messi is finally preparing to confront the one footballing mystery that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career — a competitive clash against England.

Until now, Messi and England seemed destined to remain two forces that would never meet. The idea that the greatest footballer of his generation — perhaps of all time — might never face the country where the sport was born had long threatened to become one of football’s most curious what-ifs. That changes with Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final, where destiny has at last intervened.

Two decades ago, fate — or perhaps misfortune — prevented Messi from facing England when he was suspended for Argentina’s 2005 friendly after being sent off just two minutes into his international debut. The long wait since then has only deepened the intrigue surrounding this long-overdue encounter.

While patience often brings reward, this long-awaited showdown might feel like an uneven contest on paper. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, now approaching 40, is set to face a rejuvenated England side led by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Yet, Messi’s current form for both club and country suggests he remains a formidable force, chasing the rare feat of becoming the first captain since 1962 to lift back-to-back World Cups.

Messi has become football’s own Benjamin Button, seemingly reversing the effects of time and continuing to break records that will stand for generations. This summer has been another demonstration of his enduring brilliance — eight goals and two assists have already taken him past Kylian Mbappe to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, even before France’s captain exited the tournament against Spain.

Unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, his long-time rival and fellow veteran, Messi has defied the notion that a ‘Last Dance’ implies decline. Despite walking 47% of the distance he covers during matches, his efficiency remains unmatched. He has created 54 chances so far in this tournament — equalling Diego Maradona’s tally from 1986, when Argentina famously defeated England en route to glory at Mexico’s Estadio Azteca.

Since the 2014 World Cup, Messi’s attacking influence has continued to grow steadily. His touches inside the opposition box now average 6.28 per 90 minutes, underscoring his ability to remain decisive in critical areas of the pitch.

England manager Thomas Tuchel’s men face a formidable challenge in containing a player who has scored 16 goals and registered seven assists in his last 15 World Cup matches. Premier League players, many of whom have already suffered at his hands, know all too well the danger he poses. Though Messi never had to prove himself on a ‘cold, rainy night in Stoke,’ he has consistently haunted England’s traditional ‘big six’ clubs with 33 goal involvements — 27 goals and six assists — across 36 appearances.

Only teams capable of closing down the spaces Messi thrives in have managed to limit his influence — as Liverpool memorably did in Barcelona’s dramatic Champions League semi-final collapse in 2019. Yet, even then, his ability to lull defenders before exploding into action makes him nearly impossible to neutralise completely.

Messi’s cunning and timing were on full display when he dismantled Egypt earlier in the tournament, a reminder that he remains the player capable of altering a match in an instant. It brings to mind a line from The Simpsons about the quiet one who hasn’t done anything yet — but when he does, it’s going to be spectacular.

Now, under the roof of Atlanta’s air-conditioned stadium, Messi has the chance to finally show England why their long-delayed meeting was worth the wait — and perhaps to prove, once and for all, that even time itself cannot dim his brilliance.