Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi (Agency photo)
“Y ya lo ve, y ya lo ve. El que no salta, es un ingles!”“And now you see, now you see, he who does not jump is English.”It is one of the most popular chants among football fans and players in Argentina.
He follows the team wherever he goes, regardless of the opponent. Argentina fans sing it from the stands.
Players join after victories. It has become part of the identity of Argentine football.England doesn’t even need to be the opposition for Argentina’s supporters to chant this slogan. However, as Argentina prepares to face the Three Lions in the 2026 World Cup semi-final on Thursday (IST) in Atlanta, those words will carry more animosity and emotion.Argentina vs. England is a rivalry that spans generations. It is rooted in football, history, politics and colonialism, and after more than two decades of an international career, more than 200 appearances and 125 goals, Lionel Messi will play against England for the first time, as defending champions Argentina attempt to prevent Thomas Tuchel’s England from reaching their first World Cup final since 1966.It is a competition that began in 1962 and has since sparked controversy, red cards and some iconic goals.
Political tensions and military conflicts, especially those surrounding the Falklands War in 1982, continue to affect the relationship between the two football-mad countries. Argentine players and supporters still refer to the conflict in football songs.After Argentina’s victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals, celebrations continued inside the locker room. Videos shared by the Argentine Football Association showed the team singing together.
One chant paid tribute to Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi while also referring to the Falkland Islands.“For Malvinas, for Diego, for the last lion.”“For the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo’s last tournament.”Las Malvinas is the name used in Argentina for the Falkland Islands, a British territory about 300 miles (480 km) off the east coast of Argentina.The two countries fought a war over the islands in 1982. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with Argentina’s surrender.
A total of 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel and three Falkland Islanders were killed, while more than 2,300 others were injured.To this day, the Falkland Islands remain a symbol of nationalism in Argentina.A look at the fierce competition in international footballIt’s a rivalry shaped by decades of bitterness, where football and history have often collided.The first World Cup meeting was in 1962, but the competition really heated up four years later.1962: England 3-1 Argentina (Rancagua, Chile – group stage)Compared to what followed, this match was relatively quiet.Goals from Ron Flowers, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves gave England a 3-0 lead before Argentina scored a late goal.The two teams finished the group stage with one win, one draw and one defeat, but England advanced on goal difference.England were later eliminated by Brazil in the quarter-finals.1966: England 1-0 Argentina (Wembley, England – quarter-finals)This remains the only World Cup won by England.The quarter-final match is still remembered in Argentina as a match they believe was robbed of them, with claims that Geoff Hurst’s winning goal was offside.This wasn’t the only controversy in the game.Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was sent off in the 33rd minute after two fouls in three minutes. He refused to leave the field, delaying the game by about eight minutes.England eventually won a tense contest.After the match, England coach Alf Ramsey described Argentina as “animals” and instructed his players not to exchange shirts.The game also played a role in the later introduction of yellow and red cards, highlighting the need for better control of such heated contests.1986: Argentina 2-1 England (Mexico City, Mexico – quarter-finals)This game was played four years after the Falklands War, and remains the defining chapter of the rivalry. Diego Maradona scored the famous ‘Hand of God’ goal by curling the ball past Peter Shilton, before scoring the ‘Goal of the Century’ just four minutes later with a solitary pass through the England defence.
Argentina went on to lift the World Cup.1998: Argentina 2-2 England (Argentina won on penalties 4-3) (Saint-Etienne, France – Round of 16)The match was remembered for David Beckham’s red card after kicking Diego Simeone.Gabriel Batistuta and Alan Shearer exchanged penalties before Michael Owen scored one of England’s best World Cup goals in a one-man drive.Argentina equalized before the end of the first half through Javier Zanetti.England is still pressuring Argentina after the red card that Beckham received, and even thought that Sol Campbell had scored the winning goal before the goal was disallowed.Argentina eventually took the lead after winning on penalties.2002: Argentina 0-1 England (Sapporo, Japan – group stage)Four years later, Beckham got his chance at redemption.England won after Beckham scored a penalty awarded after Mauricio Pochettino fouled Michael Owen.England later defeated Denmark before losing to Brazil in the quarter-finals. Messi gets the England appointment football has been waiting for Lionel Messi has achieved almost everything in football. He has won a World Cup, two Copa America titles, numerous Champions League titles, and almost every individual honor the sport has to offer.
However, he never faced England in his career.That will change on Thursday when Argentina meets England in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta.The Argentine Football Association described it as “the match that Messi deserves.”Many of the Argentine No. 10 players have witnessed this rivalry before him. Antonio Ratin did. Diego Maradona made it his own. Ariel Ortega has experienced this too.Now Messi is getting his turn, at the end of his career.And so, 24 years after England and Argentina last faced off in a World Cup, one of the fiercest rivalries in football returns.For Messi, this will be his first match against England. For Argentine fans, from Buenos Aires to every corner of the world, they hope this will not be his last match for Argentina.
