'England Will Now See The Left Foot Of God': Zlatan Invokes Maradona Ahead Of ENG vs ARG Clash

Published 15 July 2026 · sports

'England Will Now See The Left Foot Of God': Zlatan Invokes Maradona Ahead Of ENG vs ARG Clash Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026

'England Will Now See The Left Foot Of God': Zlatan Invokes Maradona Ahead Of ENG vs ARG Clash Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 23:57 IST Zlatan Ibrahimovic invoked Maradona's 'Hand of God' before backing Lionel Messi to torment England as the Argentine icon prepares to face the Three Lions for the first time. Zlatan sends England a warning shot ahead of Messi clash (X) Argentina and England are about to add another chapter to one of football’s fiercest rivalries, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Lionel Messi is ready to create a moment worthy of its legendary history. Ahead of Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, the Swedish great referenced Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God" goal before predicting Messi’s left foot will steal the spotlight this time. “In England, they saw the hand of God, tomorrow they’re going to see the left foot of God," Ibrahimovic said on Fox Sports.

🔥 Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 🔥“England have already seen the hand of God. Tomorrow, they will see the left foot of God." 🇦🇷 The rivalry has produced some of the World Cup’s most unforgettable moments. Maradona’s controversial punch past Peter Shilton in the 1986 quarter-final was followed moments later by his dazzling solo run that became known as the “Goal of the Century." Twelve years later, David Beckham’s red card after kicking Diego Simeone helped Argentina eliminate England again on penalties. Now, another Argentine legend steps into the spotlight. Remarkably, despite an international career spanning 21 years and 205 appearances, Messi has never faced England at senior level. He has played against more than 80 different nations, including Mauritania, Estonia and Angola, but the Three Lions have somehow remained missing from his résumé. That changes in Atlanta. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner arrives in red-hot form, leading Argentina’s charge with eight goals at the tournament as the defending champions chase consecutive World Cup titles.

England, meanwhile, are hoping to end 60 years of hurt under Thomas Tuchel and book a place in their first World Cup final since 1966. History, legacy and a place in Sunday’s final are all on the line. For Messi, it is a long-overdue meeting with one of football’s greatest rivals. For England, it is the daunting challenge of stopping arguably the greatest player of his generation. And if Zlatan is right, the Three Lions could be about to witness another iconic moment in World Cup folklore. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What impact could this match have on Messi's legacy? I cannot determine the impact of this match on Messi's legacy. However, Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.