Messi's scoring streak ends, but Argentina advances to World Cup semifinals

Argentina has secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, overcoming a resilient Switzerland side with a 3-1 victory after extra time. Despite a strong start and an early goal from Alexis Mac Allister in the 10th minute, assisted by Lionel Messi, Argentina couldn't extend their lead. Switzerland fought back, equalizing in the 67th minute through Dan Ndoye.

Lionel Messi's impressive run of scoring in nine consecutive World Cup matches concluded, as he did not find the net against the Swiss. However, his presence remained influential, and the team ultimately prevailed thanks to decisive goals in extra time. Julián Álvarez scored a spectacular goal in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez added another in the 120th minute following a counter-attack, sealing Argentina's advancement.

The match, played in front of 69,045 spectators at the Kansas City Chiefs' stadium, also saw a significant moment when Switzerland's Breel Embolo was shown a yellow-red card in the 72nd minute after a VAR review for simulation. Argentina's Leandro Paredes initially received a yellow card, which was later rescinded.

Argentina's next challenge will be a semifinal clash against England in Atlanta on Wednesday. England advanced by defeating Norway 2-1 in their own extra-time thriller. For Switzerland, reaching the quarterfinals marked a significant achievement, their best performance since the 1954 World Cup.