Messi after Argentina's FIFA WC 2026 semi-final: 'This team never stops believing'
Synopsis
Argentina needed extra time and a red card to finally see off Switzerland, but they got there — and Messi's Instagram post said it all. With a record-extending 15-game World Cup scoring streak intact and a date with England in Atlanta next, Argentina's bid to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend the World Cup title is very much alive.
Key Takeaways
Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Kansas City on 12 July .
Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored in extra time; Switzerland were reduced to 10 men .
Lionel Messi did not score but stayed on the pitch until the final whistle and motivated the squad throughout.
Argentina have now scored in 15 consecutive World Cup matches, the sixth-longest streak in the tournament's history.
Argentina face England in the semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday , with a place in the final at stake.
A final appearance would give Argentina the chance to become the first team to defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 .
Lionel Messi hailed his side's resilience after defending champions Argentina survived a major scare against Switzerland to advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, booking their place among the last four for the second consecutive tournament. The hard-fought 3-1 victory in Kansas City on 12 July was sealed in extra time, keeping Argentina's title defence firmly on track.
How Argentina Got Through
Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez both struck in extra time to put the contest beyond a 10-man Switzerland side and seal a 3-1 scoreline. Messi himself did not get on the scoresheet but remained on the pitch until the final whistle, visibly driving his teammates through a gruelling contest. The win was hard-earned — and, by Messi's own admission, nerve-shredding.
'I feel very happy about the victory, a very hard-fought win. We knew it was going to be a very intense match. It was important for us to take this step to have a more relaxed week before what's coming,' Messi said after the final whistle.
A Record-Extending Scoring Streak
Argentina's goal in this match extended their consecutive World Cup scoring run to 15 games — an elite mark in the competition's history. Only five sequences have been longer: Uruguay (16 games, 1930–1962), Hungary (17 games, 1934–1962), and Germany twice and Brazil (all on 18 games, spanning different eras). Argentina are now firmly in that historic company.
Messi's Message on Social Media
Celebrating the victory, Messi shared a series of photographs from the match on Instagram, underlining the squad's collective mental strength. 'Once again we had to suffer, but this team never stops believing. We are once again among the four best in the world!!! Let's go!!!' he wrote. Notably, the post captured the mood of a squad that has consistently found ways to win ugly — a hallmark of this generation of Argentine football.
What's Next: England Semi-Final in Atlanta
Coach Lionel Scaloni's side will now face fierce rivals England in the second semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday. Victory would put Argentina in the final for the second consecutive time and give them the chance to script history — becoming the first nation to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. The stakes could hardly be higher.
Point of View
And Messi's own impact on the scoresheet has been limited. Yet the pattern of this squad is precisely that: find a way, regardless of the aesthetic. The England semi-final is a genuine 50-50, but Argentina's psychological edge — forged in the 2022 World Cup and reinforced match by match — is a factor that statistics alone cannot capture. The real question is whether Messi can deliver when it matters most, as he did in Qatar. If he does, history beckons.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Argentina reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?
Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time in Kansas City on 12 July, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scoring the decisive goals against a 10-man Swiss side. The win puts them in the last four of the tournament for the second consecutive time.
Did Lionel Messi score against Switzerland?
No, Messi did not score in the match against Switzerland. However, he played the full duration, including extra time, and was credited with keeping the team motivated throughout the contest.
Who will Argentina face in the semi-final?
Argentina will face England in the second semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday. It is a high-stakes rivalry match, with the winner earning a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
What is Argentina's consecutive World Cup scoring record?
Argentina have now scored in 15 consecutive World Cup matches, extending one of the longest active streaks in the tournament's history. Only Uruguay, Hungary, Germany (twice), and Brazil have recorded longer runs.
What historic milestone could Argentina achieve?
If Argentina win the FIFA World Cup 2026, they would become the first nation to successfully defend the title since Brazil in 1962 — a feat that has eluded every champion for over six decades.
