2026 World Cup: Kyle Walker advises England on how to contain Lionel Messi in semifinal clash
Former England defender Kyle Walker has shared his thoughts on how the Three Lions can limit the influence of Lionel Messi ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
England will face the defending champions on Wednesday, with Messi entering the match in impressive form after scoring eight goals and providing two assists in six appearances at the tournament.
Writing in his column for The Sun, Walker praised the Argentina captain, describing him as one of the most complete players in football despite approaching the latter stages of his career.
The former Manchester City right-back noted that Messi contributes less defensively than many players, but said Argentina’s tactical setup allows him to conserve energy for attacking moments.
Walker revealed that he had discussed the possibility of assigning a player to mark Messi closely but questioned whether such an approach would be effective.
According to him, focusing too heavily on the Inter Miami forward could leave England vulnerable in other areas of the pitch.
He also cautioned against trying to provoke Messi during the match, suggesting that the Argentine star often responds positively when challenged.
England will be aiming to reach the World Cup final when they face Argentina in one of the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures.
