Did Lionel Messi score today? Live updates, stats, highlights from Argentina vs. Switzerland
Did Lionel Messi score today? Live updates, stats, highlights from Argentina vs. Switzerland originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Lionel Messi and Argentina stand two matches away from having the opportunity to defend their 2022 World Cup trophy at the final, and that road goes through European hopeful Switzerland.
Messi has shown the world time and time again that he can take Argentina as far as he can lead them. Late in the second half against Egypt in the Round of 16, La Albiceleste were down 2-0. One Messi assist and goal later, the game was tied, and eventually won by the Argentinians in dramatic stoppage-time fashion.
A win over Switzerland would send Messi and Co. to the World Cup semifinals, where they will face either Norway or England. Heading into the slate of quarterfinals matchups, Messi stands alone as the top goalscorer of the 2026 World Cup with eight goals through five matches.
The Sporting News is following Messi’s goals, highlights, and live updates from the Argentina vs. Switzerland quarterfinals match. Here is everything you need to know about the eight-time Ballon d’Or and 2022 World Cup winner’s enthralling level of play during tonight’s match.
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Argentina vs. Switzerland score
MORE: LIVE player ratings for Argentina vs. Switzerland
Lionel Messi stats today
- Minutes: 90
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 1
- Shots: 1
- Shots on target: 0
- Passes: 37
- Pass completion: 86% (37/43)
- Touches: 62
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:
- Printable World Cup bracket
- Updated Golden Boot tracker
- Expert picks for World Cup quarterfinals
- Ranking World Cup teams remaining 1-8
- Ranking best players still in World Cup
Did Lionel Messi score a goal today?
No, Lionel Messi has not scored yet against Switzerland through 114 minutes.
Lionel Messi highlights, updates from Argentina vs. Switzerland at World Cup
(All times ET)
112′ Julian Alvarez puts La Albiceleste ahead
11:33 p.m. – GOAL FOR ARGENTINA! At long last, Argentina finally found their go-ahead goal to lead against Switzerland thanks to a stunnign Julian Alvarez curling shot to the top right corner.
A SENSATIONAL GOAL FROM JULIÁN ALVAREZ TO PUT ARGENTINA IN FRONT IN EXTRA TIME 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/J3Ql16XwX3
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 12, 2026
Full time: Argentina 1-1 Switzerland
11:00 p.m. – We are heading to extra time after neither side could score another goal in regulation. Still nothing for Messi besides the lone assist. Perhaps some late-game heroics are in store for the Kansas City audience?
67′ Dan Ndoye scores Swiss equalizer
10:28 p.m. – GOAL FOR SWITZERLAND! Ndoye slots it under Emi Martinez and puts Switzerland level. Argentina have played this second half fully content with a one-goal lead, and it’s come back to bite them.
SWITZERLAND DRAWS LEVEL WITH ARGENTINA 🇨🇭
Dan Ndoye scores and looks straight into the camera pic.twitter.com/31TgzMi1Ht
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 12, 2026
10:07 p.m. – The second half is underway in Kansas City. Will Messi add to any of his tournament records, or will Switzerland keep the game within reach?
Halftime: Argentina 1-0 Switzerland
9:51 p.m. – A rather uneventful first half comes to an end with the reigning World Cup champions up thanks to the Mac Allister goal. Messi now needs one more assist to tie Mbappe in the Golden Boot race, or one goal to take sole possession of the No. 1 spot.
10′ Alexis Mac Allister opens scoring
9:10 p.m. – GOAL FOR ARGENTINA! Off a Messi cross from a corner kick, Mac Allister is there to head in the effort and open Saturday night’s scoring for Argentina.
ARGENTINA TAKES THE EARLY LEAD 🇦🇷
Alexis Mac Allister heads it home off the Messi corner! pic.twitter.com/lLgLn6lc4I
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 12, 2026
9:00 p.m. – After the opening whistle has sounded, we are officially underway in Kansas City! What will Messi do tonight?
He technically is in second place despite having a tournament-high eight goals in the Golden Boot race due to France’s Kylian Mbappe’s two assists as the tiebreaker.
First half begins
Pregame
8:44 p.m. – Here comes Lionel Messi and Argentina. With a win, La Albiceleste will head back to consecutive World Cup semifinals, and face off against England.
🥶🇦🇷 Lionel Messi & co have arrived. ✨ pic.twitter.com/82Ip7W9Xoe
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 12, 2026
How to watch Messi’s World Cup games
- TV channel: Fox
- Live stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/website
This match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.
Cord-cutters can tune into the game by using fubo.
World Cup 2026 remaining schedule
Quarterfinals
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Thu, Jul. 9 | 4 p.m. | QF1: France 2, Morocco 0 | Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA) |
| Fri, Jul. 10 | 3 p.m. | QF2: Spain 2, Belgium 1 | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| Sat, Jul. 11 | 5 p.m. | QF3: Norway vs. England | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL) |
| Sat, Jul. 11 | 9 p.m. | QF4: Argentina vs. Switzerland | Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO) |
Semifinals
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Tue, Jul. 14 | 3 p.m. | SF1: France vs. Spain | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) |
| Wed, Jul. 15 | 3 p.m. | SF2: Winner, QF3 vs. Winner, QF4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) |
Third-place match
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Sat, Jul. 18 | 5 p.m. | Loser, SF1 vs. Loser, SF2 | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL) |
Final
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Sun, Jul. 19 | 3 p.m. | Winner, SF1 vs. Winner, SF2 | MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) |
