England's Nico O'Reilly calls facing Messi a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance

Manchester City defender Nico O'Reilly, 21, will line up at left‑back for England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi‑final against Argentina in Atlanta on July 16. The Three Lions reached the last four after a 2‑1 extra‑time victory over Norway in Miami, while Argentina progressed by beating Switzerland 3‑1.

O'Reilly said the matchup with 39‑year‑old Lionel Messi is a “once‑in‑a‑lifetime” opportunity, noting it may be Messi’s final appearance against an English side. Messi entered the tournament as the all‑time World Cup top scorer, having surpassed Miroslav Klose’s 16‑goal record and tallying 21 goals so far, including a hat‑trick against Algeria.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford cautioned teammates not to focus solely on Messi, stressing the need to address Argentina’s other strengths. The semi‑final winner will face the victor of the France‑Spain match in the final at New York‑New Jersey Stadium on July 19.

Separately, analysts note that despite the tournament’s billions‑strong audience, the crypto sector remains largely absent from the sport’s major sponsorships, highlighting a missed commercial opportunity.