Messi Ends World Cup Scoring Streak Against Switzerland

Argentina Advances After Intense Battle

Argentina booked a spot in the semifinals with a hard‑fought 3‑1 win over Switzerland. The match turned early when Messi produced nifty footwork to force a corner, then delivered a perfect ball into the box that Alexis Mac Allister headed home for a 1‑0 lead. Switzerland responded in the 67th minute, leveling the score and sending the game into extra time, where Julian Alvarez’s rocket in the 112th minute broke the deadlock. Lautaro Martinez sealed the victory with a late goal, and Enzo Fernandez added a stoppage‑time winner to clinch the game.

Key Moments and Stats

Messi’s World Cup scoring run finally ended after nine consecutive matches, six of them in knockout stages. The Argentine captain also needed a trainer’s attention after a blow near his right eye in the second half, but he still managed an assist for the opening goal. Switzerland’s defensive tactics kept the record‑holding scorer in check, while the visitors relied on Alvarez’s clinical finish and Martinez’s calm finishing to secure the win. The victory sets up a showdown with England in Atlanta on Wednesday.

What Lies Ahead for La Albiceleste

Argentina will face England in the semifinals, a rematch that adds extra intrigue to the tournament’s closing stages. The match is scheduled for Wednesday evening in Atlanta, marking another chapter in a season of high‑stakes football. With Mbappé still co‑leading the Golden Boot race, Messi’s assist in this game underscores his continued influence despite the scoring drought. The team’s resilience, highlighted by late goals from Alvarez, Martinez, and Fernandez, shows depth beyond a single star.

Messi’s World Cup legacy

Looking back, Messi’s overall impact at the tournament remains historic. He netted a first‑ever hat trick against Algeria three weeks earlier, a performance that helped Argentina reach the quarterfinals with eight goals. His penalty misses against Austria and Egypt threatened to derail the campaign, but he recovered to score the equaliser against Egypt and set up Cristian Romero’s header. At 39, the captain continues to defy age concerns, earning praise from coach Lionel Scaloni as a “machine” who stays hungry to be the best.

Swiss coach Murat Yakin laughed off the question of how to stop Messi, noting the many solutions his team would explore. He highlighted the challenge, as Messi had scored in nine straight World Cup matches and owns the tournament record with 21 career goals. Yakin’s humorous reply turned into a strategic focus, and the Swiss defense managed to limit Messi’s scoring chances, preserving their chance to progress in the knockout phase.