The Albiceleste, reigning champions, face Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. Messi, with 8 goals, seeks to keep the dream of defending the title alive against a Swiss team that hasn't reached this stage since 1954.
Argentina is the only non-European hope in the 2026 World Cup. After Morocco's elimination at the hands of France, the Albiceleste bears the weight of preventing the trophy from returning to Europe. On Saturday, in Kansas City, they face Switzerland in the quarter-finals, a rival that has already warned they do not intend to be mere spectators.
Messi, the beacon in the storm
Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, is having a historic tournament. He has scored eight goals in five matches, half of the 14 his team has netted, and he leads the scoring chart alongside Kylian Mbappé. However, the rest of the squad has barely contributed: no other player has scored more than one goal, and figures like Julián Álvarez have yet to score or assist.
Epic has been the tone for the Albiceleste. In the round of 16 against Egypt, they were down 2-0 with 11 minutes to go, but Messi rescued the team with an assist and a goal for the final comeback (3-2). After the final whistle, the captain broke down in tears and his teammates lifted him in celebration. "We want him to feel that we are with him until the end," said midfielder Leandro Paredes. "We also play so that his last match never comes."
But emotion alone is not enough. Argentina needs to elevate their collective play if they want to overcome a Switzerland that, on paper, is inferior, but has proven to be a tough nut to crack. Coach Lionel Scaloni must find solutions to support Messi in attack.
Switzerland, the David that is no longer a surprise
Switzerland reaches the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, but their recent trajectory shows that it is no coincidence. In the last two European Championships, they fell in the quarter-finals, both on penalties, against Spain and England. The Swiss dressing room has fed the narrative of David versus Goliath, but with a sense of ambition. "I’m going to play against Messi, I can retire now," joked forward Zeki Amdouni, although no concessions are expected on the pitch.
Midfielder Granit Xhaka, one of the three survivors from the last encounter between the two teams (the round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup, which Argentina won 1-0 with a goal from Ángel Di María in the 118th minute), warned: "We are not talking about revenge. This will be a very different match from 2014." Coach Murat Yakin claimed to have "several solutions" to collectively stop Messi: "We will act as a block. We will try to circulate the ball with passes, pressing high against Argentina."
The absence of forward Manzambi due to injury is the only setback for the Swiss, who rely on their defensive solidity and the experience of Xhaka and Ricardo Rodríguez.
What is at stake
The winner will face England or Norway in the semi-finals. For Argentina, a defeat would mean Messi’s farewell to the World Cups, a moment the squad wants to postpone for as long as possible. For Switzerland, it would be the greatest achievement in their footballing history. The match takes place on Saturday at 21:00 local time at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
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