2026 World Cup: Frank Leboeuf Tips Xhaka to Stop Messi as Argentina Face Switzerland
France 1998 World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf believes Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka will play a decisive role in Sunday's 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Argentina by attempting to contain Lionel Messi.
The reigning world champions will take on Switzerland for a place in the semi-finals, with Messi once again carrying much of Argentina's attacking threat after another outstanding tournament.
The 39-year-old forward heads into the clash on the back of another influential display, contributing a goal and an assist in Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16.
Speaking on ESPN FC, Leboeuf said he would like to see Xhaka assigned the task of closely marking Messi, arguing that Argentina are a different side whenever their captain is neutralised.
“You will have Granit Xhaka responsible for Messi. I want to witness that. It will be intriguing to observe how the Argentine players cope without Messi’s influence. Switzerland will recognize that Argentina is not the same team without him.”
The former Chelsea defender also suggested that Switzerland's disciplined style could expose Argentina, noting that the South Americans have relied on narrow victories in recent matches.
“Argentina has been winning by narrow margins lately. Eventually, they will falter. If you are a well-organized Swiss team, the outcome could be quite different.”
Messi and Xhaka previously faced each other at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where Argentina edged Switzerland 1-0 after extra time.
The Argentine captain has enjoyed a sensational campaign, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in five appearances. He has found the net in every match of the tournament and remains one of the leading scorers alongside France star Kylian Mbappé.
Argentina have won all of their matches at this year's World Cup, with both knockout-stage victories ending 3-2, underlining both their attacking quality and defensive vulnerability.
Opinion:
Leboeuf is right to identify Messi as Switzerland's biggest concern, but stopping him has never been as simple as assigning one player to mark him. Xhaka's experience and leadership will be crucial, yet Switzerland will need a collective defensive effort to limit the Argentine captain's influence. If they succeed in cutting off the service into Messi while remaining disciplined in possession, they could make the quarter-final far more competitive than many expect.
