English defender cannot wait to face Lionel Messi, calls it a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

England's national squad are preparing for their greatest challenge at the 2026 World Cup, as they come up against defending champions Argentina in the semi-final fixture. But for The Three Lions' young left-back Nico O'Reilly, this match carries weight far beyond just competing for a place in the tournament final.

The Manchester City player has stated that the opportunity to face Lionel Messi is a moment that may only ever occur once across his entire professional career. For this reason, he intends to fully embrace the match and treat it as an invaluable career milestone.

"This is the kind of chance that might only come once in a lifetime. Messi is entering the final stages of his career. For me personally, he is the greatest footballer to ever step onto a pitch. I cannot wait to take on this challenge," O'Reilly told the BBC on Tuesday.

The semi-final will be hosted at Atlanta Stadium, United States, kicking off in the early hours of Thursday WIB. The winning side will progress through to the 2026 World Cup final.

O'Reilly On Course For Direct Matchup With Messi

If he is once again selected to start at left-back, O'Reilly will be handed a formidable task. He is projected to be the England player who will be forced into the most frequent direct defensive duels against Messi, Argentina's primary attacking catalyst.

This upcoming fixture is also set to be the very first time Messi has ever faced the England national team during his entire international career. At 39 years old, this match may very well be the final opportunity the Argentina captain will ever have to play against The Three Lions.

For O'Reilly, this clash with Argentina will also be his first ever meeting with Messi on the pitch. Throughout his time at Manchester City, he has never faced the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner at club level.

Messi Remains Lethal At 39 Years Of Age

Argentina advanced to the semi-final stage after eliminating Switzerland with a 3-1 victory. England secured their place in the final four courtesy of a 2-1 win over Norway.

Messi's consistent form throughout the tournament is the core reason England have been instructed to assign special defensive focus to him. The global superstar opened his 2026 World Cup campaign with a hat-trick during Argentina's 3-0 defeat of Algeria.

Following that opening match, Messi has maintained his sharp finishing form, adding a further five goals across his next appearances.

Heading into the semi-finals, the 39-year-old has recorded a total of eight tournament goals, level with France striker Kylian Mbappe at the top of the scoring charts.

Beyond this, Messi has now officially cemented his status as the all-time top goalscorer in World Cup final tournament history, holding an overall career tally of 21 finals goals.