England vs. Argentina: Will Harry Kane or Lionel Messi star in FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals?
Harry Kane has been the most prolific goalscorer in the world over the past season with Bayern Munich and England. Now he comes up against one of the greatest players in history in Lionel Messi as the Three Lions take on Argentina in a hotly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atalanta on Wednesday.
Kane has shown time and again that he is a player that belongs on the world's very biggest stages. Fresh from securing his third consecutive Bundesliga top scorers' crown and second successive league title for Bayern, he has carried England's hopes in North America just as authoritatively as expected.
Six goals so far in the World Cup leave Kane in contention for the Golden Boot, with the superb late brace against DR Congo that saw England come back and progress in the last 32 sure to be long remembered.
Given Kane's seemingly eternal habit of scoring by the bucketload, it is not always easy to put his bursts of particularly fine form into context, but his staggering tally of 73 goals for club and country in 2025/26 (so far!) makes his campaign the second best on record in a major European league this century.
The only player to ever record a better goalscoring season? The irrepressible Messi, back in 2011/12 for Barcelona. Some 14 years later, the Argentinian legend is still wowing the world by showing himself to be every bit as canny and prolific as in his younger years.
Messi is right at the front of race for the Golden Boot after the quarter-final stage with eight strikes - the same as France's Kylian Mbappé - as he carries the Albicelete deep into the tournament once again.
As true greats of the game, both Kane and Messi can be expected to step up and deliver something special in the semi-final. The world is now eagerly awaiting to see whether the Bayern star can lead England into their first World Cup final since 1966 or whether Messi gives Argentina the chance to retain their crown.
