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Argentina vs. Switzerland player ratings: Live grades for Lionel Messi, others in 2026 World Cup quarterfinal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina hope to continue their push deep into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they meet European side Switzerland in the quarterfinals from Kansas City on Saturday.
Having triumphed four years ago in Qatar for the first time in his career, Messi now hopes to lead the Albiceleste to another title, which would make Argentina the first side since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive World Cup crowns. Messi leads all goal scorers at this tournament with eight, level with Kylian Mbappe of France, having taken over the all-time career World Cup goal scoring record earlier in the competition.
Switzerland, meanwhile, have reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954 when they did so on home soil. They have never reached the semifinals of a World Cup in national team history.
The Sporting News brings you a full list of player ratings for the match, analyzing both team's individual performances from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.
LIVE:Follow Argentina vs. Switzerland updates from 2026 World Cup quarterfinal
Argentina vs. Switzerland live score
Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
Referee: Joao Pinheiro (POR)
Argentina starting lineup:
4-4-2 diamond, right to left: 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 6. Li. Martinez, 3. Tagliafico — 5. Paredes — 7. De Paul, 20. Mac Allister — 24. E. Fernandez — 10. Messi, 9. Alvarez.
Switzerland starting lineup:
4-4-2, right to left: 1. Kobel (GK) — 6. Zakaria, 4. Elvedi, 5. Akanji, 13. R. Rodriguez — 8. Freuler, 10. Xhaka, 15. Sow — 22. Rieder, 7. Embolo, 11. Ndoye.
Argentina player ratings vs. Switzerland
All ratings are on a 10-point scale.
Starters
Goalkeeper: Emi Martinez — Grade pending
Wasn't needed for the first half-hour, but came up big when he made a very nervy but very effective tackle of Breel Embolo in the first truly dangerous Switzerland move forward.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right-back: Nahuel Molina — Grade pending
Extremely active early on, both combining with Lionel Messi on the right and also counter-pressing when Messi was blanketed by defenders on the ball. It was a little sloppy at times, with Molina falling all over the place or overlapping Messi by running over the touchline, but it worked.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right Center-back: Cristian Romero — Grade pending
While Lisandro Martinez handled the possessional responsibilities, Cristian Romero was a monster defensively, rejecting everything that Switzerland threw into the Argentina penalty area.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left center-back: Lisandro Martinez — Grade pending
Exceptional on the ball per usual. Had a sensational flick in the 23rd minute to Cruyff turn around one Switzerland player before being fouled by another.
Made a horrible mistake on the half-hour mark by feeding Breel Embolo a chance on the counter, but it was sniffed out by Emi Martinez.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left-back: Nicolas Tagliafico — Grade pending
Very little influence on the game as Argentina concentrated their buildup on the right, which was Lionel Messi's side.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Defensive midfielder: Leandro Paredes — Grade pending
An effective, if not convincing, presence in the middle of the pitch for Argentina to funnel possession through. Occasionally got up the field, with Enzo Fernandez struggling to get involved.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Central midfielder: Rodrigo De Paul — Grade pending
Less than convincing in midfield. Got his pocket picked by Ndoye to start a very dangerous Switzerland counter-attack on the half-hour mark.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Central midfielder: Alexis Mac Allister — Grade pending
Hardly a touch on the ball in the opening 10 minutes, but it didn't matter as he cropped up with a header off a corner for the opening goal. It was a beautiful effort, as he met the ball at the near post and delivered a pinpoint delivery inside the far side-netting.
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This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Attacking midfielder: Enzo Fernandez — Grade pending
Got stuck a little deep in possession through the first 20 minutes of the match, struggling to get on the ball further up the field. It's been like that for much of the tournament for Enzo, often bypassed by Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Paredes, who are meant to be deeper.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right forward: Lionel Messi — Grade pending
Took about 10 minutes for him to get going, but once he got on the ball, he started to carve the Switzerland defense apart.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left forward: Julian Alvarez — Grade pending
Played as a roving forward with Messi more rigidly on the right. Got a little lost early on, as he often has been throughout this World Cup. Had a chance to make his mark in the 40th minute when a fortunate deflection saw a looping ball from Lionel Messi drop straight in Alvarez's lap, but he disappointingly couldn't control it.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Argentina substitutes vs. Switzerland
This section will be updated later in the match when substitutes enter off the bench and look to make an impact.
Argentina coach vs. Switzerland
Lionel Scaloni: Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis and commentary after the match has concluded and a proper assessment of the head coach's tactics and substitutions can be made.
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Switzerland player ratings vs. Argentina
Starters
Goalkeeper: Gregor Kobel — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right-back: Denis Zakaria — Grade pending
Zakaria has been one of Switzerland's best players at this World Cup, and he was excellent again in this match. It started early on, as the 29-year-old Monaco star, a natural midfielder deputizing at right-back, got high up the field early and often. He hit on his first 17 passes of the game, an impressive number for such an attack-minded full-back.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right center-back: Nico Elvedi — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left center-back: Manuel Akanji — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left-back: Ricardo Rodriguez — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Central midfielder: Rimo Freuler — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Central midfielder: Granit Xhaka — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Attacking midfielder: Fabian Rieder — Grade pending
Played centrally in a more attacking role, and provided some danger early on, but was largely a passenger as Argentina cut off Switzerland's progression into the attacking third.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right wing: Djibril Sow — Grade pending
Started in midfield with Johan Manzambi out injured. Was beat in the air on the opening goal by Alexis Mac Allister, which put his team in a hole early.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Center forward: Breel Embolo — Grade pending
His pressing early was very good, as he refused to come out recklessly, but when he did break from his defensive shape to provide pressure, it was effective. Ran a counter-attack quite well on the half-hour mark, requiring a very good tackle from Emi Martinez to end the threat.
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Remained a handful as the first half went on, backing down Lisandro Martinez and playing well with his back to goal.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left wing: Daniel Ndoye — Grade pending
Ndoye was effective when Switzerland managed to find him, but they needed more from the Nottingham Forest winger, as their best wide attacker in the lineup.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Switzerland substitutes vs. Argentina
This section will be updated later in the match when substitutes enter off the bench and look to make an impact.
Switzerland coach vs. Argentina
Murat Yakin: Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis and commentary after the match has concluded and a proper assessment of the head coach's tactics and substitutions can be made.
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