Messi leads Argentina to World Cup semifinal victory over Switzerland.

Argentina secured their place in the World Cup semifinals with a hard-fought victory over Switzerland. The match ended 3-1 after extra time at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday. Julian Alvarez scored the decisive long-range goal to seal the win for the defending champions.

Lionel Messi started Argentina's lead early in the tenth minute. He headed home a cross from Alexis Mac Allister. However, European side Switzerland leveled the score in the sixty-seventh minute. Dan Ndoye finished calmly from close range to restore parity.

Controversy erupted when Breel Embolo was sent off for simulation in the seventy-second minute. The Portuguese referee initially issued a second yellow card. Video Assistant Review intervened and overturned the decision after checking for mistaken identity regarding Leandro Paredes. This new tournament rule caused an uproar among fans watching the intense quarterfinal clash.

Argentina pushed desperately for a winner during normal time but could not find it. Lisandro Martinez nearly scored with a powerful scissor-kick in the box, yet his effort lacked power against the keeper. Messi also came close on a one-on-one chance before his chip was saved by the goalkeeper. Officials suggested an offside call might have stood had replays been viewed closely.

The turning point arrived deep into extra time in the 112th minute. Alvarez fired a shot from twenty-five yards that found the top right corner of the net. Switzerland threw players forward in the dying seconds, leaving massive gaps at the back. Lautaro Martinez capitalized on a counterattack led by Thiago Almada to score his third goal.

Argentina now prepares to face England in Wednesday's semifinal in Atlanta. Spain will meet France in the other last-four clash on Tuesday. Only Italy and Brazil have previously defended their World Cup titles successfully. The grueling schedule, including extra time against Cape Verde earlier, adds significant pressure to the squad.

England also required extra time to defeat Norway in their recent match. At thirty-nine years old, Messi remains determined to defy age expectations. His experience suggests he can still deliver magical moments for his team.