Lionel Messi added another stage to his remarkable FIFA World Cup career on Saturday, becoming the first player in history to record 10 assists in the tournament since records began in 1966. The Argentina captain reached the landmark during his side’s quarter-final clash against Switzerland at the Arrowhead Stadium, producing a well-timed corner in the 10th minute that Alexis Mac Allister slotted into the net.
Most attendances at the FIFA World Cup (since 1966)
| Classification | Player | country | you attend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 10 |
| 2 | Diego Maradona | Argentina | 8 |
| = 3 | Pierre Littbarski | Germany | 7 |
| = 3 | Grzegorz Lato | Poland | 7 |
The goal put Argentina 1-0 up and marked the first point the reigning champions have scored at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was also the first time Switzerland had fallen behind in the tournament, having conceded just three goals in their previous five games. Messi’s latest assist further cemented his status as one of the greatest playmakers in World Cup history. He now sits alone at the top of the all-time assist charts with 10, moving two ahead of Argentine legend Diego Maradona. The 39-year-old has continued to deliver on football’s biggest stage, bagging goals and assists as Argentina chase a historic fourth World Cup title. The defending champions are aiming to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the FIFA World Cup trophy. Argentina entered the quarter-finals after surviving a tense extra-time win over Cape Verde in the Round of 16 before producing a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to beat Egypt with three goals in an 11-minute spell. Victory over Switzerland will send Lionel Scaloni’s side into a semi-final against England, who defeated Norway 2-1 earlier on Saturday. The last four games are scheduled in Atlanta on Wednesday.