Lionel Messi leads Argentina to 3-2
comeback victory over Egypt and spot in World Cup quarterfinals
[July 08, 2026]
By JAMES ROBSON
ATLANTA (AP) — It was another World Cup epic from an Argentina team
that simply doesn't know when it's beaten.
Trailing 2-0 against Egypt with 11 minutes of regulation time to
play on Tuesday, the defending champions rallied for an improbable
3-2 victory and a spot in the quarterfinals.
“We have a phenomenal group, a group that never gives up no matter
the difficulties and adversity. We’re always together,” said Enzo
Fernandez, who scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
Argentina will play Switzerland in the next round on Saturday in
Kansas City, Missouri.
For much of Tuesday's game, it looked like it would be a painful
exit for the 39-year-old Lionel Messi in what might be the last of
his six World Cups.
Egypt led after goals in each half from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa
Zico and could have been ahead 3-0 if not for a video review that
ruled out another score.
Argentina looked down and out, its bid to be the first team to win
back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 all but
dead.
Cue a monumental comeback.
“The heart of Argentinians is always something that pushes, that we
keep going no matter what, that we give everything until the end.
And honestly, with the score 2-0, we looked a bit beaten,” Argentina
striker Julian Alvarez said. “There was little time left, but we
always manage to get something more by fighting until the end.”
Cristian Romero started the rally by scoring with a header in the
79th minute. Messi, who was in tears after the final whistle, scored
his eighth goal of the tournament and record-extending 21st goal at
the World Cup in the 83rd to level the score at 2-2 and Fernandez
completed the comeback in injury time.
“Four years have passed since Qatar, and we’ve come to enjoy another
World Cup — and we want to win it again. That’s what we’re aiming
for,” Fernandez said.
Argentina is no stranger to heroic matches at the World Cup.
There was the 3-2 win over West Germany in the 1986 final. Then the
3-3 draw and eventual shootout victory against France to reclaim the
title four years ago.
Cape Verde pushed Argentina to the brink in the last round before
the defending champions eventually won 3-2 in extra time.
Tuesday's match was even more dramatic, with Messi having a
first-half penalty saved and another effort hit the post.
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Argentina's Lionel Messi takes a free kick during the World Cup
round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta,
Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
“I’m so emotional,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni
said. “What a group of players, brother.”
Egypt took a surprising lead in the 15th minute when Ibrahim got
ahead of Lisandro Martinez to meet Marwan Attia’s cross and head the
ball into the bottom corner.
Argentina was quickly given the chance to level the
match when Haissem Hassan tripped Nicolas Tagliafico in the box
moments later. Referee François Letexier pointed to the penalty spot
and Messi stepped up with an expectant crowd waiting for him to
score.
Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir had other ideas, diving to his left
to block the shot for Messi’s second penalty miss of the tournament
after also failing from the spot against Austria in the group stage.
Despite being the all-time leading scorer at World Cups, Messi has
now missed four of eight penalty kicks at the tournament.
After Messi hit the post later in the half, Shobeir pulled off
another great save to stop Julian Alvarez from close range.
Egypt thought it had doubled its lead in the second half when
Mostafa Zico finished off a sweeping attack. But the wild
celebrations were cut short when a foul earlier in the move was
confirmed on video review and the goal was disallowed.
That second goal for Egypt did come in the 67th from a similar
break, and this time Zico’s effort counted. It just wasn't enough.
“We looked better compared to the reigning champions. We were better
in everything, but the result,” Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said.
Hassan said he would not watch any further games at this year's
World Cup, believing his team should have had a penalty before
Argentina broke away for the winning goal.
“I’m not convinced with this outcome. I’m not convinced with the way
things unfolded during this match,” he said. “I do not want to try
to put it nicely here with beautiful wording, selected wording, and
saying hard luck and so on and so forth.
“We have been treated unfairly today,” Hassan said. “We have
suffered injustice.”
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