Argentina earned a hard-fought spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup after defeating Switzerland 3-1 in overtime, and at the end of the match, two of its star players, Messi and Lautaro, both highlighted the team’s resilience in overcoming one of the toughest matches of the tournament.
The Albiceleste captain acknowledged that the victory was far from easy and celebrated the fact that the team found a way to come out on top in a match that demanded their utmost effort.
“A hard-fought victory”
This is your first match against England. Does it hold special significance for you, just as it does for all Argentines❓
🚨 The Legend Messi: “Yes, definitely. Matches against the big teams are always special, and I’ve never played against England before, so it will be a special game.”
It’s the World Cup semifinals, and now we’re going to rest and get ready… pic.twitter.com/2Ldc3uomrM
— Messi World (@M10GOAT) July 12, 2026
“I’m very happy about the win—it was a hard-fought victory,” Messi said after the match in Kansas City.
The Argentine star said that Switzerland’s game plan did not take Lionel Scaloni’s team by surprise.
“We knew it was going to be a very intense game,” he explained.
With qualification secured, Messi also emphasized the importance of reaching the semifinals with greater peace of mind in order to prepare for the next match.
“It was important for us to take this step so we could have a more relaxed week before what’s coming up,” he said, referring to Argentina’s match against England next Wednesday in Atlanta.
The match will hold special significance for the Argentine captain, as it will be the third World Cup semifinal of his career and his first match against England, whether in official competitions or friendlies.
“I’m proud”: Lautaro Martínez
For his part, Lautaro Martínez, who sealed the victory with the third goal in the final minutes of extra time, said that the team’s greatest strength was staying calm despite the challenges the match presented.
“This team always has that little something extra. Even though they were down a man, we went out there and went for it. We struggled a bit in the second half, but in the end we always stayed in the game and didn’t lose our patience,” said the Inter Milan forward.
The forward explained that the team learned from the mistakes made in previous games and was able to correct them during the match against the Swiss.
“When the game unfolds this way, with opponents looking to regain possession and launch quick counterattacks, that’s where we improved compared to what happened against Egypt. Today, it was important to build on the positives and correct the negatives,” he said.
Lautaro also expressed his pride at being part of a team that has once again placed Argentina among the top four teams in the world.
“I’m proud to be part of this group of players, this team, this national team, and this country because once again we’ve kept Argentina among the top four in the world,” he concluded.
With its victory over Switzerland, the defending world champion keeps alive its dream of defending the title it won at Qatar 2022 and will now look to defeat England to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Filed under: Messi and Lautaro
