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Lionel Messi Confronts Referee During Argentina's World Cup Quarterfinal Win Over Switzerland

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First reported by Mako · Jul 12, 2026

What happened

In the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, Lionel Messi confronted referee João Pinheiro over his tone during Argentina's 3-1 win against Switzerland. The match included a VAR decision sending off Swiss player Breel Embolo for simulation. Argentina advanced to face England in the semifinals, with Messi setting a new record for key passes in World Cups.

01Lionel Messi confronted referee João Pinheiro over disrespectful tone during Argentina's 3-1 win.
02VAR review led to Swiss player Breel Embolo's red card for simulation against Argentina.
03Messi set a World Cup record with 10 key passes in the match.
04Argentina secured a semifinal spot to face England in the 2026 World Cup.
05Coach Lionel Scaloni criticized Argentina's performance despite the victory.
06Teammate Julián Álvarez dedicated the win to Messi, aiming for another World Cup title.

Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.

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