England midfielder Nico O’Reilly has described the opportunity to face Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi final as a dream come true, calling the encounter a “once in a lifetime” experience as the Three Lions prepare for one of the biggest matches in their recent history.
The highly anticipated clash will see England and defending champions Argentina battle for a place in the FIFA World Cup final, with millions of football fans around the globe expected to watch the showdown between one of football’s brightest young talents and one of the greatest players the game has ever produced.
O’Reilly, who has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with both Manchester City and the England national team, admitted that sharing the pitch with the legendary Argentine is a moment he has always hoped for.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s semi final, the youngster praised Messi’s extraordinary career and said the opportunity to compete against the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner represents one of the biggest challenges of his football journey.
“I can’t wait,” O’Reilly said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. He’s coming towards the end of his career and, for me personally, he’s the greatest player to ever play football. I am looking forward to the challenge.”
The Manchester City academy graduate has quickly established himself as one of England’s most promising young players, earning praise for his composure, versatility and tactical intelligence throughout the tournament.
Should manager Gareth Southgate hand him a starting role, O’Reilly could find himself directly tasked with limiting the influence of Messi, who has once again been one of the standout performers at the World Cup.
The Argentina captain has produced another remarkable tournament despite approaching his 40th birthday.
Messi opened the competition with a stunning hat trick against Algeria before continuing his impressive scoring form throughout the knockout rounds. His latest goals have taken his overall FIFA World Cup tally to 21 goals, extending his legendary record and placing him level with France captain Kylian Mbappé in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
His performances have once again demonstrated why many football experts regard him as the greatest player in the history of the sport.
However, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has warned his teammates against becoming too focused on stopping Messi alone.
The Everton goalkeeper acknowledged the Argentine superstar’s brilliance but stressed that Lionel Scaloni’s side possess quality throughout the squad and cannot be judged by one player.
“We all know how good Messi is and everything he has achieved in football,” Pickford said. “It will be special to finally play against him after watching him for so many years.”
“But Argentina are much more than just Messi. They have quality across the pitch, and if we focus only on him, we could leave ourselves exposed elsewhere. We have to respect the whole team while also believing in our own strengths.”
Argentina arrive in the semi final as one of the tournament favourites after maintaining an impressive run throughout the competition.
Supported by experienced stars and a new generation of talented players, the South American champions have once again shown their ability to dominate possession, defend collectively and produce moments of individual brilliance when required.
England, meanwhile, have impressed with their disciplined defensive structure and balanced attacking play.
Their route to the last four has highlighted the team’s growing maturity, with several young players stepping forward alongside experienced leaders to help the Three Lions reach another major tournament semi final.
For O’Reilly, the occasion also represents another milestone in a remarkable rise through the ranks.
Having developed in Manchester City’s famous academy, he earned recognition for his technical quality, work rate and versatility before breaking into the first team. His performances at club level secured his place in England’s World Cup squad, where he has continued to impress with composed displays against elite international opposition.
Football analysts believe his fearless mentality could prove valuable against Argentina’s experienced midfield.
Despite the enormous attention surrounding Messi, England’s coaching staff are expected to prepare a tactical approach focused on limiting Argentina’s overall attacking threat rather than assigning individual man marking responsibilities.
The winners of the semi final will advance to the FIFA World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, where they will meet either France or Spain in the battle for football’s biggest prize.
Victory would move England one step closer to winning their first FIFA World Cup title since 1966, while Argentina are aiming to defend the crown they won four years earlier and further cement their place among international football’s greatest teams.
As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on whether England’s emerging generation can overcome the brilliance of Lionel Messi and book their place in the World Cup final.
