Heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina, the reigning champions, and England, a team full off established Premier League superstars, were two of the favourites to go all the way.
Both teams lived up to the hype, putting in some solid performances over the course of the tournament, before facing off against each other in a blockbuster semi-final matchup which took place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday.
As both squads shook hands before kick-off, Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, led the way for his country. Eagle-eyed fans tuning into the game noticed that Messi met every English player with a straight face, with the exception of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
did anyone else see Messi smile at Saka when they shook hands while he kept a straight face at everyone else
— DW (@Afc_DW) July 15, 2026
Several supporters shared their reactions on X, speculating if there was a deeper meaning behind Messi’s decision to acknowledge Saka in a different way.
One claimed that Messi might have been showing respect, as Saka is coming off a memorable season with Arsenal, where he helped the Gunners win the Premier League and get to the Champions League final.
Another supporter was of the opinion that Bukayo Saka may have showed his admiration for Messi, which led the Argentine great to react this way.
Another fan wondered if Messi might have recognized that Saka also has a similar temperament to him, as the English winger has also developed a reputation of being extremely calm and humble.
Though Wednesday’s semi-final began with smiles on both sides, only Lionel Messi and his teammates were celebrating at the end.
England were slight pre-match favourites to progress to the final, and they even took the lead via an Anthony Gordon strike in the 55th minute, but Argentina staged a memorable comeback to turn the game on it’s head in the final 15 minutes.
Messi was at the heart of all the action, and he provided the assists for both his nation’s goals. Saka, on the other hand, did not play a single minute as the Three Lions suffered semi-final heartbreak at the World Cup yet again.
