[2026 World Cup] Messi Becomes First to Reach 10 Career Assists as Argentina Advance to Semifinals

Defeat Switzerland 3-1 after 120-minute extra-time battle

Messi provides opening goal assist... Consecutive scoring streak comes to an end

'Defending champions' Argentina have advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup after defeating Switzerland in a grueling 120-minute battle that went into extra time. Lionel Messi failed to score, ending his streak of consecutive World Cup tournament goals at six matches, a run that had continued since the Round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Instead, according to football statistics provider Opta’s records since the 1966 England World Cup, Messi became the first player to reach a total of 10 career assists in World Cup history.

On July 12 (Korean time), Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup held at Kansas City Stadium in the United States. Argentina will face England for a place in the final at Atlanta Stadium in the United States at 4 a.m. on July 16.

Despite the victory, Argentina’s performance left much to be desired. Even after gaining a numerical advantage due to Swiss player Breel Embolo’s sending off in the 72nd minute, Argentina failed to score the winning goal during regular time, which forced the match into extra time and resulted in further fatigue.

From the early stages, Argentina struggled against Switzerland’s intense pressing. It was Messi who changed the flow of the match. In the 9th minute of the first half, after receiving the ball outside the right side of the penalty box, Messi drew in defenders and then passed to Alexis Mac Allister in the center. Mac Allister’s right-footed shot deflected off a defender and resulted in a corner kick. From the ensuing corner, Messi’s cross was headed in by Mac Allister for the opening goal.

Lionel Messi (right) and Alexis Mac Allister, who jointly scored the opening goal, are cheering. Photo by Xinhua Yonhap News

With this assist, Messi became the first player to reach 10 career assists in World Cup history, based on Opta’s records since the 1966 England World Cup. He also widened the gap between himself and Diego Maradona, who is second with 8 assists, to two.

Although Argentina took the lead, Switzerland dominated the remainder of the first half. Switzerland recorded 57% possession in the first half, and both teams registered three shots and one shot on target each. Switzerland’s only shot on target in the first half came in the 19th minute, when Djibril Sow’s long-range effort was reliably saved by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The second half began with a tense exchange, but as time passed, Switzerland increased their offensive pressure.

In the 60th minute, Breel Embolo’s shot and, in the 65th minute, Dan Ndoye’s header were both thwarted by goalkeeper Martinez. Then, in the 66th minute, another sharp long-range effort from Ndoye was acrobatically saved by Martinez.

In the 67th minute, Ndoye finally equalized for Switzerland from the left side. After receiving the ball on the left flank, Ndoye passed to Ricardo Rodriguez and then made a run into the penalty box. He received the ball back from Rodriguez and scored with a left-footed shot that shook Argentina’s net.

Switzerland, who were looking to overturn the match after equalizing, faced a major setback in the 72nd minute. Embolo was penalized for simulation following a VAR review during an attacking play and received a yellow card. Having already received a yellow card in the first half, Embolo was sent off for accumulation of cautions.

Julian Alvarez, who scored the winning goal with a fantastic right-footed curving shot in the second half of extra time, is celebrating. Photo by AFP

With a numerical advantage, Argentina launched a relentless assault but could not break through Switzerland’s defense. In the 85th minute, Messi received a pass from Leandro Paredes and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He brought the ball down with his chest and attempted a chip shot, but failed to lift it over goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. In the 89th minute, Mac Allister’s header sailed over the crossbar. In the second minute of added time, Messi’s curling shot went wide of the goal, and in the ninth minute of added time, Lisandro Martinez’s surprise volley was blocked once again by Kobel, sending the match into extra time.

At the start of extra time, Argentina’s Thiago Almada came on and fired a powerful right-footed shot from the left side in the 95th minute, but it struck the left post. The first period of extra time ended without any goals.

In the second half of extra time, Argentina dominated and scored two goals to decide the match. In the 111th minute, Messi’s powerful left-footed shot from outside the box was parried by Kobel, but in the ensuing attack, Julian Alvarez scored the winning goal with a brilliant curved shot from the left side of the penalty box. The ball flew into the top right corner of the net, beyond the goalkeeper’s reach. Argentina put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time of the second half of extra time with Lautaro Martinez’s decisive goal, sealing the victory.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.