Another fan: Switzerland's captain was astonished by Messi's talent: "I don't know if we can stop him”

After eliminating Colombia in the penalty shootout and securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, Switzerland is already focused on the clash against the Argentine National Team. In the lead-up to the match, captain Granit Xhaka spoke about the challenge of facing Lionel Scaloni's team and praised Lionel Messi.

The experienced midfielder acknowledged the difficulty of marking the Argentine captain and stated that sharing an era with the Rosario player is a privilege for any footballer.

"I don't know if we will be able to stop him for 90 minutes or even 120. For me, and for all of us who played in the Messi era, it is a privilege. It is a privilege to face him and be part of his story," he expressed after Switzerland's qualification.

In addition to highlighting the Argentine footballer's career, Xhaka defined him as "one of the best players in the history of football" and acknowledged the quality of the opponent they will face.

However, he made it clear that Switzerland will not be satisfied with just playing a historic match. The midfielder stated that the team will try to impose its personality and compete on equal terms against the reigning world champion.

"We are going to enjoy this match, but we also want to show who we are and make life as difficult as possible for Argentina," he noted.