Kansas: Lionel Messi’s unprecedented run of scoring in consecutive FIFA World Cup matches has finally come to an end. Following nine successive tournament appearances with a goal, the Argentina captain was kept off the scoresheet during his side’s hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday night (Sunday morning IST) at Kansas City Stadium.

A Record-Breaking Run Concludes

The streak, which redefined modern World Cup history, began in Qatar during Argentina’s 2022 Round of 16 victory over Australia. Messi scored in every subsequent match of that triumphant campaign before carrying his blistering form into the 2026 tournament.

Messi broke the previous record of six consecutive matches—held jointly by France’s Just Fontaine (1958) and Brazil’s Jairzinho (1970)—when he netted against Jordan during the group stage. He then extended his remarkable run to nine matches with clinical finishes against Cape Verde and Egypt in the knockout rounds.

However, the resolute Swiss defence managed to do what no other team has done in nearly four years: prevent the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner from finding the back of the net in a World Cup fixture. Messi registered two shots during the gruelling 120-minute contest, with only one hitting the target, but was ultimately unable to breach Gregor Kobel’s goal.

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Leaving His Mark

Despite seeing his personal scoring streak snapped, Messi still proved pivotal to Argentina’s progression. The veteran playmaker left his mark on the match early in the first half. In the 10th minute, he delivered a pinpoint corner kick directly onto the head of Alexis Mac Allister, who powered home the opening goal.

Argentina ultimately required extra time to bypass the 10-man Swiss squad, with a breathtaking 112th-minute strike from Julián Álvarez and a stoppage-time counter-attack goal from Lautaro Martínez securing their path to the semi-finals.

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The Golden Boot Race

While the streak is over, Messi’s tournament ambitions remain very much alive. He remains tied with France’s Kylian Mbappé in the race for the 2026 Golden Boot, with both superstars playing central roles for their respective nations.