Argentina vs. Switzerland player ratings: Live grades for Lionel Messi, others in 2026 World Cup quarterfinal

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

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

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left center-back: Lisandro Martinez — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left-back: Nicolas Tagliafico — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Defensive midfielder: Leandro Paredes — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Central midfielder: Rodrigo De Paul — Grade pending

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.

Watch in USA:

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

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Attacking midfielder: Enzo Fernandez — Grade pending

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

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.

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

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

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.

Right 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.

Left midfielder: 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.

Right wing: Fabian Rieder — Grade pending

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.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left wing: Daniel Ndoye — Grade pending

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.