​Lionel Messi has found the back of the net in every World Cup match so far, but after two exhausting knockout battles, will the 39-year-old’s age finally catch up with him in the quarter-final against Switzerland? Lionel Scaloni’s side breezed through the group phase, yet they have been pushed to the brink by Cape Verde and Egypt. They required extra time to edge past a World Cup debutant outfit in the last-32, winning 3-2, before rallying from two goals down to beat Mohamed Salah’s team in a pulsating clash. The defending champions have triumphed in all five of their games, with Messi’s brilliance and the team’s unwavering collective spirit central to their progress. Messi made amends for a missed penalty against Egypt with a calmly struck finish as Argentina surged from behind in the closing minutes. He broke down in a rare outpouring of emotion at the end of the dramatic 3-2 victory in Atlanta, insisting that he was desperate for his World Cup journey to continue. “It was a moment of pure happiness and relief,” the Inter Miami forward said. “We wanted to stay in the tournament. We didn’t want today to be the end, we didn’t want to go home.” Messi admitted he was fatigued after playing 120 minutes against Cape Verde, yet he featured for the entirety of the Egypt game and remains indispensable to the side. Saturday’s quarter-final at Arrowhead Stadium will bring him back to the venue of his hat-trick in Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 tournament. His scoring streak has continued, lifting his total to eight goals—tied with Golden Boot rival Kylian Mbappé. He has also become the leading scorer in World Cup history, his tally reaching 21 goals across his illustrious career.
Beyond his extraordinary talent, Argentina’s true strength lies in their remarkable camaraderie. The South Americans are now unbeaten in 11 World Cup matches as they chase the rare feat of becoming the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. “Whatever happens from here on, this team gives me the sense that it never stops believing, even when everything is going against it,” Scaloni remarked. That sentiment is echoed by midfielder Enzo Fernández, who said the squad “never gives up no matter the difficulties and adversity.”
There have even been faint whispers that Argentina—the sea of blue-and-white fans trailing them everywhere—has perhaps benefited from favorable officiating at the World Cup. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan floated the idea that the refereeing crew for the last-16 match might have been subjected to “external pressure” to tilt in Argentina’s favor, a notion swiftly dismissed by FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina. The South Americans now face a stern challenge against a diligent and well-coached Switzerland side in Kansas City. The Swiss, captained by the influential Granit Xhaka, are one win away from reaching their first-ever World Cup semi-final.
Murat Yakin’s men defeated Algeria 2-0 in the round of 32 before edging past the rest with stubborn resilience, and they arrive with their own aspirations and technical prowess. Switzerland will aim to disrupt Argentina’s rhythm and test Messi’s endurance in a high-stakes clash that pits experience against youthful sprint and strategic discipline. This quarter-final promises to be a measuring stick for Messi as he continues to chase the legacy of a World Cup great, while Scaloni’s crew seeks to extend their remarkable unbeaten run and push toward a potential title defense.