Lionel Messi sustains an eye injury
Lionel Messi sustained a cut near his right eye during the second half of Argentina’s World Cup quarterfinal against Switzerland on July 11, 2026, at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri.
Argentina won 3-1 after extra time and advanced to the semifinals. The match was the tournament’s 100th contest and final quarterfinal in a 48-team competition hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Lionel Messi completes 120 minutes
Messi received accidental facial contact from Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka during the second half. The incident left a visible mark near the forward’s right eye before the next scheduled hydration break.
Argentina’s medical staff cleaned the affected area and applied ice during that pause. Messi stayed in the contest without substitution and completed all 120 minutes as the quarterfinal continued through extra time.
Lionel Messi asks referee for respect
Television footage showed Messi speaking with Portuguese referee João Pinheiro before a Switzerland free kick. The exchange followed instructions about Argentina’s defensive wall, where the captain had been preparing to stand.
Messi reportedly said, “Speak to me properly,” and asked Pinheiro not to show disrespect. The official match record lists no caution for Argentina’s captain, and the referee restarted play after their brief discussion.
Lionel Messi creates the opening goal
Messi created Argentina’s opening goal in the 10th minute after earning a corner through close control. His delivery reached Alexis Mac Allister, whose front-post header traveled beyond Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Mac Allister stands 1.76 meters tall, yet he scored while surrounded by taller opponents inside the penalty area. The midfielder’s finish gave Argentina a 1-0 advantage during the tournament’s final quarterfinal.
Switzerland equalizes through Dan Ndoye
Switzerland equalized in the 67th minute when Ricardo Rodríguez found Dan Ndoye inside Argentina’s defense. The winger completed the move, changing a narrow deficit into a 1-1 contest with 23 regulation minutes remaining.
The goal became Switzerland’s only score of the night. Argentina failed to restore its advantage before regulation ended, sending the quarterfinal into extra time after both teams completed the scheduled 90 minutes level.
Breel Embolo receives a second caution
Referee João Pinheiro initially cautioned Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes after Breel Embolo went down in the 72nd minute. A video review determined that officials had penalized the wrong player under the mistaken identity protocol.
Officials reassigned the caution to Embolo for simulation. Because Switzerland’s forward had already received a card in the 44th minute, he left the field, and his team continued with 10 players.
Switzerland forces extra time
Switzerland protected the 1-1 score after losing Embolo, while Argentina increased its pressure. Mac Allister sent a header wide in the 89th minute as the organized Swiss defense preserved the tie.
Messi created another opportunity during second-half stoppage time but directed his attempt wide. Regulation ended without another goal, forcing both teams to play 30 additional minutes before the quarterfinal could be settled.
Julián Álvarez breaks the tie
Julián Álvarez broke the tie in the 112th minute with a long-range effort that reached the upper corner. His finish placed Argentina ahead after Switzerland had defended with 10 players throughout extra time.
The strike arrived eight minutes before the scheduled conclusion and gave Argentina a lead it preserved. Switzerland could not answer Álvarez’s effort before Lautaro Martínez added another goal during stoppage time.
Lautaro Martínez completes the victory
Lautaro Martínez added Argentina’s third goal in the 121st minute after goalkeeper Gregor Kobel stopped an earlier effort. The forward converted the rebound and extended the advantage during the closing seconds.
Martínez’s finish completed the 3-1 result and confirmed Argentina’s semifinal place. The two late goals ended Switzerland’s effort to reach the final four for the first time in World Cup history.
Lionel Messi’s scoring streak ends
Messi’s run of goals in nine consecutive World Cup matches ended against Switzerland. Six appearances in that sequence came during knockout rounds, extending from Argentina’s 2022 title campaign into the 2026 tournament.
The captain still assisted Mac Allister’s opener and entered the semifinal with eight goals in six tournament appearances. Those figures left Messi level with France forward Kylian Mbappé among the leading scorers.
Argentina survives three knockout tests
Argentina reached the semifinals after three demanding knockout matches. The defending champion beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time, then erased a 2-0 deficit against Egypt and won by the same score in Atlanta.
Cape Verde and Switzerland each pushed Argentina through 120 minutes, while Egypt led until the 79th minute. The national team scored nine goals across those three victories before meeting England.
Lionel Messi prepares for England
Messi was expected to face England after completing the Switzerland quarterfinal despite treatment near his right eye. The facial issue did not force his removal, and no subsequent update cast doubt on his semifinal availability.
Argentina focused on recovery after the extra-time win over Switzerland before traveling from Kansas City to Atlanta for the July 15 semifinal against England. Messi and Argentina entered the matchup after three demanding knockout-round victories.
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Argentina faces England in Atlanta
Argentina faces England at 3 p.m. local time on July 15, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium. The semifinal will mark Messi’s first senior international appearance against the English men’s national team.
The winner advances to the World Cup final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, against Spain, which defeated France 2-0 in the other semifinal. Argentina seeks a second straight championship after capturing the 2022 title.
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Messi played through an eye injury, challenged the referee, and helped Argentina reach the semifinals. Which moment stood out most to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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