Major League Soccer

· 9 July 2026

By Ari Liljenwall

Reigning FIFA World Cup champions Argentina are now just three victories away from successfully defending their 2022 crown.

As head coach Lionel Scaloni’s team gears up for Saturday’s quarterfinal showdown against Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium (9 pm ET | FOX, Telemundo, Peacock), the challenge goes beyond the pursuit of another trophy.

La Albiceleste – captained by Inter Miami CF talisman Lionel Messi – are also on the verge of achieving two significant milestones, making their pursuit of a fourth World Cup title even more captivating.

Repeating their 2022 triumph would elevate Argentina into one of the most elite circles in football history.

Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, only two nations have ever managed to retain the World Cup title.

Argentina now have the rare opportunity to become the first country in 64 years to defend their world champion status. If achieved, it would further solidify Messi and La Albiceleste’s dominance, placing them alongside two of the sport’s most iconic dynasties.

Italy were the first to accomplish this, defeating Czechoslovakia in the 1934 final and then overcoming Hungary 4-2 in 1938. Under the guidance of legendary coach Vittorio Pozzo, the Azzurri also clinched Olympic gold in 1936 during an extraordinary unbeaten run that lasted between 1935 and 1939.

Brazil joined that exclusive group two decades later, powered by one of the greatest footballing generations in history, claiming World Cup titles in both 1958 and 1962.

At just 17, Pelé burst onto the international stage during Brazil’s 1958 triumph over hosts Sweden. Four years later, despite Pelé suffering an early injury in the 1962 tournament, fellow Brazilian great Garrincha inspired the team to another championship, sealing a 3-1 victory over Czechoslovakia in the final.

While Argentina’s quest for back-to-back World Cup wins would be monumental for the team, Messi himself enters the quarterfinal against Switzerland with a chance to chase one of the tournament’s most enduring individual records.

The legendary No. 10 already made history earlier this summer by surpassing former German striker Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals, extending his total to 21. With that milestone achieved, Messi now sets his sights on another benchmark that has stood unchallenged for nearly seventy years.

French striker Just Fontaine set a stunning standard at the 1958 World Cup, netting 13 goals in just six matches to guide France to a third-place finish.

Almost seven decades later, no player has equalled that tally in a single World Cup tournament, with Fontaine’s achievement still widely regarded as one of football’s most unbreakable records.

Messi enters the quarterfinals with a tournament-leading eight goals, leaving him five short of Fontaine’s record, with potentially three matches remaining should Argentina reach the final.

Though it remains a challenging target, one exceptional performance could bring Messi within touching distance of yet another piece of World Cup history, further enhancing his already legendary status.

All this adds immense weight to Saturday’s clash, as Argentina pursue a pair of historic goals that could forever enshrine them among the greatest national sides the sport has ever seen.