Nine straight World Cup matches with a goal. That’s the run Lionel Messi carried into Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night — and the one that finally snapped against a Swiss side that refused to be intimidated by the defending champions. But if there’s one thing this Argentina team has proven all tournament, it’s that they don’t need Messi to finish the job. They just need him to start it.
Final score: Argentina 3-1 Switzerland (AET). Destination: the World Cup semifinals, for the second tournament running.
Messi Sets the Tone, Then Goes Quiet
It didn’t take long for the pro-Argentina crowd in Kansas City to get what they came for. In the ninth minute, Alexis Mac Allister rose highest to head home a corner delivery from Messi himself — the captain’s assist keeping his run of direct goal involvements alive even as the goal tally paused. From there, though, Switzerland’s disciplined back line — the meanest in the tournament, having conceded just three goals in five games — did something few teams have managed all summer: they shut Messi down. He nearly broke the deadlock again with a driven effort in second-half stoppage time, but it drifted just wide.
Ndoye Levels It, Then Chaos Strikes
Switzerland, playing in their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954, weren’t there to make up the numbers. Dan Ndoye punished a moment of Argentine hesitation in the 67th minute to level the match at 1-1, and for a few electric minutes it looked like the Swiss might pull off the shock of the tournament.
Then came the moment that will be debated for years. Breel Embolo went down under minimal contact from Leandro Paredes, and after a VAR review under the tournament’s new “mistaken identity” protocol, the referee reversed course — Paredes escaped, and Embolo was shown a second yellow for simulation, becoming the first player in World Cup history sent off that way. Swiss coach Murat Yakin was livid afterward, calling it a decision that “destroyed our game.” Captain Granit Xhaka said simply: “The red card changed our game.”
Ten Men, Extra Time, and Argentina’s Depth Takes Over
Down to ten, Switzerland somehow dragged the match to extra time — a genuinely heroic rearguard effort. But class and numbers eventually told. In the 111th minute, Julian Alvarez pounced on a rebound after Thiago Almada’s initial effort was blocked,
and Lautaro Martinez added a stoppage-time exclamation point moments later to make it 3-1 and put the result beyond doubt.
Scaloni’s Honesty, and a Semifinal Date With England
Even Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni admitted the officiating swung things Argentina’s way, conceding “luck was on our side” once Embolo walked. It’s the kind of honesty that’s rare from a winning manager — and it will only fuel the narrative, after Egypt’s earlier complaints about officiating against Argentina in the Round of 16, that the reigning champions are getting the rub of the green on their way to defending the trophy.
Whatever the debate, Argentina are through — riding a 12-match World Cup unbeaten run — and they’ll face England in Atlanta on Wednesday for a place in the final. Messi’s streak may be over, but his supporting cast just proved this Argentina side has more than one way to win.
Man of the Match: Julian Alvarez
