Argentina is once again proving it can win ugly. At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Lionel Scaloni's side defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time to reach the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, keeping alive its dream of a back-to-back title. The Albiceleste will face England next Wednesday for a place in the final.

The match opened with a moment of pure quality. In the 10th minute, Lionel Messi delivered a corner kick from the right that found Alexis Mac Allister's head for the opening goal past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. The assist also carried historic weight: it made Messi, at 39, the all-time leading assist provider in World Cup history, surpassing the mark he shared with legends including Pelé.

Switzerland, fresh off eliminating Colombia on penalties, refused to fold and equalized in the second half through Dan Ndoye following a well-worked team move. Goalkeeper Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez kept Argentina in the game with at least two crucial saves, and late in regulation, Breel Embolo was sent off for a second yellow card after a simulation, leaving the Swiss a man down heading into extra time.

With the numerical advantage, Argentina pushed forward and broke through in the 111th minute, when Julián Álvarez curled a stunning shot into the top corner to make it 2-1. Ten minutes later, in the closing stages of extra time, Lautaro Martínez sealed the win on a fast counterattack, putting the result beyond doubt.

The victory sends Argentina to a second straight World Cup semifinal, extending an unbeaten run built on dramatic comeback wins over Cape Verde and Egypt earlier in the tournament. England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, had already booked its own semifinal spot hours earlier with an extra-time win over Norway powered by a Jude Bellingham brace.

With Messi now chasing records that belong to football history rather than his current-day rivals, and a squad that has repeatedly shown its resilience under pressure, Argentina will look to book a place in the final against England — and keep pursuing a second consecutive world title.