Scaloni Not Surprised by Messi's 'Machine' Performance at the World Cup

According to Soccernews.

Background

Lionel Messi, who has now scored eight goals in the 2026 World Cup, is the main highlight in every Argentina match. With his goal scoring record continuing to grow, Messi not only acts as captain but also as an inspiration for his teammates. His brilliant performance in this tournament was the key for Argentina in pursuing their dream of winning the World Cup trophy.

Why this is important

Lionel Messi's extraordinary performance at the 2026 World Cup shows that despite his increasing age, he is still a key player for Argentina. By successfully scoring goals and providing assists, Messi not only helped his team advance to the quarter-finals, but also strengthened his position as one of the best players in World Cup history. His record, including scoring in six consecutive knockout phase matches, adds historical value to the tournament.

Main Points

• Scaloni Not Surprised by Messi's 'Machine' Performance at the World Cup.
• Lionel Scaloni hailed Lionel Messi's outstanding performance at the World Cup, insisting he was not surprised by Messi's performance as Argentina prepare for their quarter-final against Switzerland.
• Lionel Messi remains central to Argentina's plans.

Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloni, stated that Lionel Messi's brilliant performance in The player 2026 did not surprise him. Scaloni described the Argentina captain as a "machine" who continues to make maximum contributions to the team. Argentina managed to advance to the quarter-finals of The Messi after making a dramatic comeback against Egypt, where Messi became the main pillar in the team's revival. Egypt took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, where these goals came after Messi failed to execute a penalty in the first half. However, Messi managed to provide an assist to Cristian Romero who scored a goal in the 79th minute, which was the start of Argentina's revival. Not long after that, Messi equalized with a spectacular goal that hit the crossbar before going into the net. Enzo Fernandez then became a hero with the decisive goal in the 92nd minute. With these additional goals, Messi has now scored eight goals at the club this time, the same as Kylian Mbappe, and has become the first player in the history of the side to score goals in six consecutive knockout phase matches. Previously, Messi had also extended his goalscoring record to nine consecutive matches in Argentina's move. Even though he will be 39 years old during this tournament, Scaloni stated that he always expects the best performance from the player who has won eight Ballon d'Ors.  "Leo runs more or less the same in every game. Physically, it's true that he has done good preparation with his fitness trainer, and that is paying off. However, in terms of numbers, I don't know if he has changed much. What is clear is that he gives everything he has. When he gives everything and feels that he can create danger, he is a machine," Scaloni told reporters ahead of Argentina's quarter-final match against Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium. Scaloni added that those who think age will catch up with Messi do not know the player well. "It doesn't surprise me. Maybe people who don't know him expected that, at 39, he wouldn't be at this level. But I don't know how many times I've said: as long as he wants to, he will be the best. I believe that, and not because I'm his coach," he said. Argentina will face Switzerland, who previously beat Colombia on penalties to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth time. Argentina have won both of their 2026 World Cup side matches against Switzerland, namely 2-0 in 1966 and 1-0 in 2014, which was the last meeting between the two teams in all competitions. After losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening match in 2022, Argentina are now unbeaten in their last 11 2026 club World Cup matches (9 wins, 2 draws), which is the longest run without defeat in the history of the competition. However, Switzerland will be a challenge in itself because they are the only team who have never trailed throughout the 2026 campaign, including qualifying and final matches – a total of 11 matches (six qualifying and five final matches). "They have a long history in The development. They have very experienced players physically. They are strong. So, this will be a difficult opponent. That's for sure. We respect them a lot, as we respect other opponents. They have eliminated Colombia. Colombia performed very well during this season," added Scaloni. The winner of this match will face Norway or England for a place in the final on July 19.

What happened next

Argentina is now preparing to face the quarter-final against Switzerland, where Messi is expected to continue to show his best performance. With the momentum gained from the comeback against Egypt, Argentina has a great opportunity to continue their journey in the 2026 World Cup. Victory in this round will have a big impact on their season outlook and hopes of winning the title.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the result of the Argentina vs Egypt match in the 2026 World Cup?

Argentina managed to stage a dramatic comeback against Egypt after trailing 2-0, and managed to advance to the quarter-finals.

Who scored the goal for Argentina in the match against Egypt?

Cristian Romero scored the first goal for Argentina, followed by a spectacular goal from Lionel Messi and a decisive goal from Enzo Fernandez.

How will Lionel Messi perform in the 2026 World Cup?

Lionel Messi has scored eight goals at the 2026 World Cup and became the first player to score in six consecutive knockout phase matches.

What impact will this result have on Argentina's position in the World Cup standings?

With this victory, Argentina managed to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

When is the next match for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup?

The next match schedule for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup has not been mentioned in this article.

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