Lionel Messi leads Argentina past Switzerland to World Cup semi‑finals
Argentina defeated Switzerland 3–1 after extra‑time in the round‑of‑16 at the 2026 World Cup, securing a place in the semi‑finals where they will meet England. Lionel Messi supplied the opening assist to Alexis Mac Allister and, with the win, lifted his World Cup assist tally to a record ten and reached 31 direct goal involvements.
Messi reflected on the victory in an Instagram post, writing, “Otra vez tocó sufrir, pero este equipo nunca deja de creer.” Coach Lionel Scaloni stressed that the team’s success does not depend solely on Messi, noting the decisive goals from Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez and Thiago Almada.
After the match, Messi presented his match‑day shirt to former Italian star Roberto Baggio in the Arrowhead Stadium locker room. Baggio shared a photo of the exchange on social media, calling the gift “valuable.” The gesture highlighted the mutual respect between two generations of football legends.
The Argentine squad, praised for its unity and resilience, will now prepare for the upcoming semi‑final in Atlanta.