KANSAS CITY — Lionel Andres Messi stands just two games away from football immortality. He is on the verge of cementing his status as the undisputed greatest of all time, potentially removing any doubt regarding his standing in the history of the sport.

MORE — Argentina 3-1 Switzerland

The same stakes apply to the Argentina team as a whole. Only two nations in history have successfully defended a World Cup title: Italy in the 1930s and Brazil in 1958 and 1962. By repeating this feat, Argentina would secure its legacy as the greatest international side of all time.

These heavy expectations follow the squad into every match, including Saturday night’s 2026 quarterfinal against Switzerland. Argentina ultimately secured the result required to advance, though they now face England as underdogs in Wednesday’s semifinal at 3 pm ET.

The defending champions remain in the hunt with the world’s greatest player, yet they find themselves labeled as the underdogs.

While the outcome remains uncertain, the current run represents a level of proximity to history that may not be witnessed again in our lifetimes.

“May our fans enjoy the semifinal just like us,” Messi said after Argentina survived another scare and won 3-1 in extra-time. “This team has gotten people used to it by doing extraordinary things. We need to savor it to the fullest, because we don’t know if it will happen again.”

Previously, Messi often carried Argentina through matches that proved far tighter than anticipated. While his individual brilliance frequently defies logic, the reality of the tournament suggests Argentina is not currently the most dominant team. In the knockout stages, they have not looked significantly superior to their opponents, often relying heavily on the 39-year-old star to maintain their momentum.

Despite the analytical skepticism, the team repeatedly finds a way to win.

Against Switzerland, however, the dynamic shifted as the team stepped up when Messi was not at his most dominant. Had others not contributed, Argentina might have exited the tournament in earlier rounds. The recurring question of who besides Messi would provide a spark finally received an answer.

Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez appeared to respond to the external pressure. Switzerland challenged Argentina from the opening whistle, crowding Messi to force him away from the center. Murat Yakin’s tactical approach nearly pushed the match to a penalty shootout.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 112th minute. Alvarez found space at the corner of the penalty area, received a pass from Jose Manuel Lopez, and delivered a precise strike into the top corner, eluding goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

The Swiss squad, reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute following a second yellow card for Breel Embolo, fought hard until the final whistle. Defenders Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero anchored the Argentine backline throughout the physical contest.

“There’s always a lot of talk,” Alvarez said after scoring the winner. “I think we have to focus our energy on our own things. The group is very united, very strong. Now it’s time to rest and think about the next one. We’d prefer to win games earlier, but we know it’s not easy. There are two more left, and we’re going to go for them with everything.”

Switzerland remained competitive for long stretches, equalizing through Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute. The performance left approximately 68,000 Argentine fans at Arrowhead Stadium feeling the pressure.

“Luck was with us today,” coach Lionel Scaloni admitted. “We must be realistic, there are things we need to improve.”

For Alvarez, the goal was a crucial contribution after struggling to find his rhythm earlier in the tournament. With two matches remaining, the team’s ability to rely on multiple scorers makes them a dangerous contender.