Quick Summary
- Learn from Carlos Sanchez's famous blueprint.
- Deny Messi space in the right half-space.
- Stay switched on to his sudden bursts.
- Exploit the defensive space he leaves behind.
England will be facing Argentina at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2002, but no meeting between the two nations is remembered more vividly than their infamous 1986 quarter-final in Mexico, when Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal and his stunning 'Goal of the Century' helped eliminate the Three Lions.
During that game, Maradona was simply impossible to contain, and although controversial officiating partly played a role in that disallowed goal, the diminutive Argentinian ran the show.
40 years down the line, and the Three Lions will be facing a side that boasts yet another lifetime talent that has already cemented himself as a legendary figure in the sport in Lionel Messi, who has scored eight goals all tournament, and is eyeing a third career World Cup final.
From an England point of view, the question will naturally linger: How will we stop Messi? Well, Striver.Football attempts to solve that question by analysing how he got Argentina to this level, as well as some tips from one of a very few players who have actually succeeded in stopping him before:
How Messi Has Dominated by Walking
When Argentina made an emotional 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt in the Round of 16, Messi uncharacteristically burst into tears at the final whistle. Dig deeper, and it was not because he had taken a toll on himself physically.
Messi spent the vast majority of that game walking. Walking has accounted for a staggering 64% of his movement across the 2026 World Cup, a share that is far clear of any other outfield player in the competition.
He spends an additional 25% of the match simply standing still, and only breaks into a jog 8.6% of the time (lagging far behind the tournament average of 23%).
Yet, behind this apparent idleness lies a ruthless efficiency. Messi ranks third for touches in the attacking third, has created 15 big chances, and sits tied with Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race with 8 goals.
For Thomas Tuchel and England, as they eye a historic first World Cup final appearance since 1966, stopping this walking paradox is the ultimate tactical hurdle. To do it, they must look at a blueprint drawn up 15 years ago by an unheralded Colombian midfielder who achieved the seemingly impossible.
The Carlos Sanchez Blueprint For Stopping Messi
In 2011, a relatively unknown defensive midfielder named Carlos Sanchez was handed an elephant-sized assignment: man-mark the peak, Ballon d'Or-winning version of Messi at a home Copa America in Argentina.
Colombia secured a legendary 0-0 draw, and Sanchez's masterclass earned him the permanent moniker of "The Anti-Messi."
Speaking to The Athletic, Sanchez recalled how his coaching staff prepared him.
"Leonel Alvarez pulled me aside and asked, 'How do you see yourself against Messi?' I said that off the pitch I respect him. On the pitch, I'll play my way and he'll play his way. I told him I'd do whatever he asked. I was prepared."
Declan Rice, who has been playing on the left side of a double-midfield pivot for both club and country, might have to play a key role, if Sanchez’s theory is to be believed.
During that game, Sanchez constantly tracked Messi, with four midfielders shifting ahead, forcing the Backpass.
"My objective was to make Messi play backwards. If he's playing backwards, we're winning." Center-back Luis Perea stepped up instantly if Messi bypassed the first layer as seen in the figures below.
Read More: Argentina vs England World Cup 2026: Young Stars Ready to Shape Semi-Final Destiny
Read More: Why Lionel Messi Has Never Faced England Until Now
Phase 1: Deny Messi Space In The Right Half-Space
To stop Messi, England must first understand where his walking occurs. FIFA's tracking data shows his strolling is heavily concentrated in the inside-right pocket between the center circle and the penalty area.
Messi uses his low-tempo movement to drift into areas of uncertainty, as seen in the figures above given Messi likes to receive the ball in those areas.
If England's left-back Nico O’Rilley or left-sided center-back Marc Guehi steps up aggressively to smother him, they fall directly into his trap.
Phase 2: Don't Get Caught By Messi's Walking Trap
Messi's stillness is a psychological weapon. It lulls defenders into a false sense of security before a sudden, vertical burst catches them flat-footed. Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola famously summarized this.
"It looks like he's just ambling around... but, boy, when that ball reaches him, he knows the complete time-space X-ray of who is where. Then... pow!"
As documented by FIFA, When Messi does run, it is overwhelmingly forward—71% of his runs in possession end in the final third, and 21% inside the box. He waits for runners to stretch the defensive line, slips back to the edge of the D unnoticed, and strikes.
To combat this, England’s designated marker must maintain what Carlos Sanchez calls "constant, relentless attention."
"The natural instinct for a defender is to follow the ball — the moment you look away, he's gone," says Sanchez. "I kept my focus because at any moment, in half a second, he'll make something happen and everything I've done would mean nothing."
A great example is during their 3-2 win over Cape Verde. Messi walks from an offside position as he anticipates to get on the end of a long ball from Lisandro Martinez, before suddenly running past the Cape Verde defender’s blindside and get on the end of the ball to find the back of the net.
Phase 3: Exploit Messi's Defensive Weakness
There is a silver lining for England. Messi's walking pace means he offers virtually zero defensive pressing or tracking back when Argentina lose possession. This leaves his teammates carrying a heavy defensive burden.
England can exploit this structural imbalance. If Rice and his midfield partner Eliott Anderson can quickly bypass Argentina's hard-working midfield line, they can overload the transition spaces that Messi leaves vacant.
England's Three Golden Rules For Stopping Messi
To make history and secure a spot in the final, England’s game plan must be built on three non-negotiable principles:
Clean Aggression: Carlos Sanchez was famously instructed by his manager to be highly physical but "play the fool" to avoid a red card. Declan Rice must be aggressive, bodying Messi early without committing cheap, dangerous fouls around the box.
Never Follow the Ball: When Argentina circulate possession, the midfielder assigned to Messi must ignore the ball and keep his eyes locked on Messi’s positioning.
Pass the Baton: England’s left-back, left-center-back, and defensive midfielder must communicate constantly. Messi must be smoothly handed off as he floats between their zones, preventing any single defender from being dragged out of the backline.
