Argentina, Messi complete epic comeback vs. Egypt,...
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- Argentina trailed Egypt 2-0 with just over 10 minutes remaining in Atlanta before scoring three times — Cristian Romero's header, Messi's equalizer off the crossbar in the 84th minute, and Enzo Fernández's stoppage-time winner — to claim a 3-2 victory and a quarterfinal berth.
- Messi had earlier missed a first-half penalty saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, his second miss of the 2026 World Cup and the fourth penalty he has failed to convert in eight World Cup attempts from the spot.
- Egypt took the lead through Yasser Ibrahim's 15th-minute header from Marwan Ateya's cross, then doubled it when Mostafa Ziko swept home Haissem Hassan's low cross in the 58th minute, with Mohamed Salah central to both goals.
- VAR controversially ruled out an earlier Egypt goal for a foul on Lisandro Martínez at the start of the build-up, yet declined to review a shirt pull by Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister in the penalty area before Fernández's winner, drawing furious protests from Egypt's players and coach Hossam Hassan.
- Shobeir kept Egypt in the match for nearly 80 minutes, saving Messi's penalty and denying him multiple point-blank chances, joining Cape Verde's Vozinha and Curacao's Eloy Room (who set the all-time single-game record with 15 saves vs. Ecuador) in standout goalkeeping performances against La Albiceleste.
- Messi now has eight goals in the 2026 World Cup to lead the Golden Boot race; the 39-year-old was in tears at the final whistle, and manager Lionel Scaloni praised the squad's 'grit, intensity, guts, and spirit' in sealing the comeback.
Why it matters: Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, were 10 minutes from elimination in a match Egypt deserved to win; Messi's late intervention keeps both his country's title defense and his own Golden Boot push alive, while the VAR decisions handed Egypt a defeat they will likely contest with FIFA, intensifying scrutiny on officiating consistency in the tournament's closing rounds.
