Lionel Messi once again underlined his status as one of football’s greatest players, scoring and providing an assist as Argentina came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 in a thrilling Round of 16 clash and book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The defending champions looked to be heading for a shock exit after Egypt stunned them with two well-taken goals. Yasser Ibrahim put the Pharaohs ahead in the 15th minute before Mostafa Zico doubled their advantage in the 67th minute, leaving Argentina with a mountain to climb.
With their World Cup title defence hanging by a thread, Argentina mounted a remarkable response.
Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th minute, powering home a header from Messi’s inviting delivery to ignite the comeback. Four minutes later, Messi brought Argentina level with a composed finish in the 83rd minute, extending his extraordinary run to nine consecutive FIFA World Cup matches with at least one goal.
Just when extra time seemed inevitable, Enzo Fernández completed the turnaround in the second minute of stoppage time, firing home the winner in the 90+2nd minute to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory and spark wild celebrations among the Argentine players and supporters.
Messi’s goal took his World Cup tally to 21, while his assist for Romero saw him surpass Diego Maradona as the player with the most assists in the history of the men’s FIFA World Cup, adding yet another milestone to a career already filled with remarkable achievements.
Argentina dominated possession for long periods and dictated much of the contest, finishing with nearly two-thirds of the ball while outshooting Egypt 19-6 and recording seven shots on target to the Pharaohs’ three. Lionel Scaloni’s men also earned seven corners and maintained relentless pressure deep into the closing stages, a dominance that eventually told after Egypt’s resolute resistance finally gave way.
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Egypt emerged from the tournament with enormous credit. The Pharaohs defended with discipline, struck clinically when their opportunities came and came within touching distance of one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history before Argentina’s late surge turned the contest on its head.
The victory keeps Argentina’s dream of retaining the World Cup alive, while Messi continues to rewrite the record books, proving once again that he remains the heartbeat of the Albiceleste on football’s biggest stage.