Argentina forward Julián Álvarez expressed immense relief after scoring his first goal of the 2026 World Cup, contributing significantly to La Albiceleste’s 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Switzerland in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday.
Álvarez broke the deadlock with a remarkable long-range shot into the goal’s upper corner during the 112th minute.
“It was a huge emotional release. I’m really happy; we kept pushing until the end, even with a man advantage. We knew the goal would eventually come. We’re ecstatic,” Álvarez stated after the match.
“Winning is what matters most. As a forward, I always aim to contribute by scoring, but it’s essential for us to defend, run, and work together as a unit. If the team wins, we’re all happy. I feel like I’ve been improving throughout the World Cup, and I hope to elevate my performance even more during this final stretch.”
The Atlético Madrid striker, who had not scored in the tournament despite being one of Argentina’s top scorers in Qatar 2022 with four goals, was named Player of the Match.
This match marked Argentina’s second victory in extra time during the 2026 World Cup knockout stage, having also triumphed over Cape Verde. Argentina has now set a record for the most extra-time matches in World Cup history, surpassing Germany, who had previously held the record with 12.
“Every World Cup match is challenging, and it’s true for us and our opponents,” Álvarez remarked. “We have experienced a lot of extra time, but we know we’re fighting until the end. We’re pushing ourselves, and as long as we keep winning, everything is positive.”
In addition to Álvarez’s goal, contributions from Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martínez helped propel Argentina into the next round. Switzerland managed to break Lionel Messi‘s scoring streak, although the Argentine captain did contribute one assist.
Controversy arose in the second half when a yellow card issued to Leandro Paredes was rescinded after a VAR review showed that Swiss striker Breel Embolo had fallen before contact was made. Embolo had previously received a yellow card, leading to his dismissal and leaving Switzerland to defend with ten players.
Next, Argentina will face England in the semifinal of the 2026 World Cup in Atlanta.
“We are incredibly proud to be among the top four teams in the world. England has amazing players and is a strong team that has performed well in this World Cup, but we need to recover and strategize for our next match,” Álvarez concluded.