Beware: Kane speaks frankly about Messi ahead of England vs Argentina World Cup 2026 semi-final.
On 15 July 2026, Harry Kane, captain and striker of the England national team, spoke about Lionel Messi, captain and star of Argentina, ahead of their highly anticipated 2026 World Cup semi-final clash tonight at 02:00 on 16 July Thai time.
This will be the first time in Lionel Messi’s 39-year career that he will face the England national team, having played 205 matches for Argentina, scoring 125 goals, and leading the team to victories in the 2022 World Cup, two Copa America titles (2021, 2024), and the 2022 Finalissima championship.
This has drawn significant attention from media and fans worldwide over the Messi vs England showdown, but Harry Kane warned his "Three Lions" teammates not to focus too much on a single player.
The Bayern Munich striker said about Messi and Argentina before the game, "He has been one of the best players in the world, possibly the best, for nearly 20 years. Everyone knows how dangerous he is."
"But we are going to compete against the Argentina national team, not just Messi. We are facing a great team full of talented players. Even though the media focuses on Messi and other superstars, we know there is much more to this team."
"It’s remarkable that he has maintained such a high level of play for so long but has never had the chance to face England before."
Harry Kane is also preparing to set a record with his 121st appearance for England, becoming the second most-capped player, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s 120 games, behind only legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton who holds 125 caps.
The England captain spoke about the chance to reach the World Cup final and compete for a major title, saying, "It’s truly a special opportunity to face the reigning world champions in the semi-finals."
"I think back to my childhood dreams of playing in games like this. This is the biggest stage, so I’m really excited, and of course, this opponent is a very tough team to face."
"It’s another very special achievement. I’ve surpassed records held by true legends like David Beckham with 115 caps, and most recently 'Wazza' (Rooney) with 120 caps. They are genuine legends of England football."
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