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Resurrecting from a 2-0 deficit, Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 this Tuesday in Atlanta and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, in a victory celebrated in tears by Lionel Messi.
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The world champion looked into the abyss when Egypt took a 2-0 lead with goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico in the 15th and 67th minutes.
But, in a span of four minutes, Cristian Romero (79') and Lionel Messi (83') tied the score, and Enzo Fernández (90+2') completed the comeback that sends Argentina to the quarterfinals, where they will face Colombia or Switzerland.
"It's been four years since Qatar, and what we came to do is represent our country in a World Cup and win it again," said Enzo Fernández at the end of the match.
"We have a phenomenal group that never gives up, regardless of the adversity," added the Chelsea midfielder.
Releasing the tension, Messi burst into tears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after a match that could have been the last of his legendary World Cup career.
Argentina, which had already played with fire against Cape Verde in an agonizing victory in the Round of 32, survived an even bigger test on an afternoon where it seemed as though all luck was against them, including another missed penalty by Messi.
The captain could have made it 1-1 in the 21st minute, but his penalty was saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
The Argentine star, who had already missed a spot-kick in the group stage against Austria, has now missed four penalties across his six World Cups.
Still, Messi was again decisive for Argentina, scoring his eighth goal of this tournament—putting him back at the front of the Golden Boot race—and extending his streak to nine consecutive games with a goal in a World Cup.
- Egypt scares -
Warned by the extreme dependency on Messi, Lionel Scaloni made moves to avoid an ordeal like the extra-time triumph against Cape Verde.
While Argentina was adjusting to the new puzzle, its fans whistled at every decision by referee François Letexier, whom they viewed with extreme suspicion due to his French nationality.
But Egypt, a team infused with the spirit of resistance from their coach Hossam Hassan, refused to be subdued and caused nervousness in the Albiceleste defense with high pressure.
The boldness paid off fifteen minutes in when Yasser Ibrahim rose above center-back Lisandro Martínez in the box to open the scoring with a header.
For the first time this World Cup, Argentina found themselves trailing, and it was precisely the Frenchman Letexier who gave them a chance to react by pointing to the penalty spot for a foul on Tagliafico in the box.
Messi put his missed penalty out of his mind and took responsibility, but Shobeir guessed his intention and prolonged the genius's curse from the 12-yard mark.
The Al-Ahly goalkeeper had already saved another crucial spot-kick in the group stage against Iran.
- Goal disallowed -
After the break, Argentina poured even more into Shobeir's box when Egypt seemed to knock out the world champions with a second goal in the 58th minute on a counterattack finished by Mostafa Zico.
When Zico had taken off his shirt in a celebration that brought tears to the eyes of Egyptian fans, Letexier was called by VAR and ended up disallowing the goal due to a foul by Marawan Attia on Lisandro Martínez at the start of the play.
Argentina breathed a sigh of relief but made the same mistake again, allowing Zico to score again on another counterattack, this time standing as a valid goal.
Mostafa Mohamed Zaki, nicknamed "the little Zico" in honor of the Brazilian legend, finished an assist from Haissem Hassan in a play that started from an Argentina corner.
But the world champions had one life left, and center-back Cristian Romero began to take advantage of it by closing the gap with a header.
Messi took the baton, later securing at least extra time with a thunderbolt into the box.
But the clock granted Argentina a few more minutes, and on their turn to counterattack, Lautaro Martínez sent a precise cross into the box that Enzo Fernández converted into the winning goal.
[Publicidad]