​KANSAS CITY, MO — All of Argentina has been searching for a player beyond Lionel Messi to rise to the occasion when it matters most. After Messi helped the Albiceleste secure an extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the round of 32 and ignite a late rally past Egypt in the round of 16, his performance in the quarterfinal against Switzerland on Saturday, June 11, was comparatively quiet by his extraordinary standards. He provided the assist for the opening goal in the 3-1 extra-time win from a corner kick, but then sat back as forwards Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez delivered the decisive strikes late in the game.
When asked if Alvarez’s goal in Messi’s mold on Saturday represented a typical Messi-esque moment, the Inter Miami star stressed that Alvarez has his own distinctive style. “No, no, he scored a golazo, but it’s not the first time. He’s scored several like that. It was a golazo,” Messi said, choosing a term that underscores the quality of a well struck effort. “He has a very good strike of the ball and showed it today. He’s been showing it for a long time.” Reflecting on Alvarez’s form at Atletico Madrid, Messi noted there were many similar finishes in his earlier career, and he added that he was simply happy with the result because both Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez found the net. “I’m very happy with everything. He scored, Lautaro scored. We needed both of them.”
Ahead of the match, Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland met in a World Cup quarterfinal with a semifinal berth on the line. Fans could glimpse the moments from Kansas City as the defending champions aimed to preserve their title defense against a Swiss side that had shown tenacity. In the buildup, Lionel Messi, wearing the number 10 for Argentina, stretched and warmed up in front of the stadium crowd on July 11, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri (Carl Recine, Getty Images).
The mood was tense after a relief-filled victory, with smiles finally returning after a nervy night. Argentina started brightly, as Messi’s corner found the head of Alexis Mac Allister for the opening goal in the 10th minute. But Switzerland answered through Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute. The Swiss were reduced to 10 men five minutes later when Breel Embolo received a second yellow card, following a Video Assistant Referee review that overturned a yellow shown to Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes and instead booked Embolo for simulation.
Even before the man advantage, Argentina had struggled to break down a stubborn Swiss defense, necessitating extra time to finally break through with Alvarez and to secure Martinez’s insurance goal. The late breakthrough underscored a recurring theme for Argentina: resilience and grit. This is a side that has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to grind out results, especially in high-pressure knockout ties.
Messi has witnessed a long arc of success with this squad, including a World Cup triumph in 2022 and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, the latter marking Argentina’s first continental championship win since 1993. “This group competes and never stops pushing, wanting more, to keep being on the level of the best,” Messi said. The message is clear: the team’s depth is being tested and proved as it continues toward the semifinals and, potentially, another deep run in this tournament.