Argentina secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Switzerland in a tense extra-time clash in Kansas City. The triumph, however, was bittersweet for Serie A fans as Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez played a pivotal role in eliminating three Italian players from the tournament.

The match began explosively, with Argentina taking the lead in the 10th minute through Alexis Mac Allister, who headed in a Lionel Messi corner. Switzerland leveled the score in the 68th minute through Ndoye, and matters worsened for Argentina when Embolo was sent off for simulation against Paredes. Despite the numerical advantage, Argentina struggled to convert their chances in regulation time.

Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a spectacular curling finish, and Lautaro Martínez sealed the win in the 121st minute with a well-executed counterattack, capping a 3-1 victory that sent Argentina through to face England in the semifinals on July 15 in Atlanta—a rematch of the infamous 1986 ‘Hand of God’ encounter.

The evening took an unexpected turn when Messi confronted the Portuguese referee Pinheiro after a rough challenge in the first half. The Argentina captain, visibly frustrated, snapped back: “Speak to me properly—don’t disrespect me.” Despite the tension, Messi remained composed enough to provide the assist for the opening goal, further cementing his status as the all-time top assist provider in World Cup history.