Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after inspiring Argentina to a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt, sending the defending champions into the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 39-year-old was seen in tears at the final whistle as teammates embraced him following one of the tournament’s most dramatic turnarounds.
Argentina looked on the verge of elimination after goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico gave Egypt a 2-0 lead with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Messi had earlier endured a frustrating evening after seeing a first-half penalty saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who produced several outstanding stops to keep Egypt in control.
However, Argentina mounted a sensational late fightback.
Cristian Romero pulled one back with 11 minutes remaining after meeting a cross from Messi before the veteran captain levelled the score just over four minutes later with a superb left-footed strike that flew in off the crossbar.
With stoppage time ticking away, Enzo Fernández completed the comeback with a decisive header to seal a famous 3-2 victory and book Argentina’s place in the last eight.
The result keeps Messi’s dream of another World Cup title alive, with Argentina set to face either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals.
The victory also saw Messi add another milestone to his glittering career, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout-stage matches while continuing his outstanding influence on the tournament.
Argentina’s dramatic comeback is also the latest a team has recovered from a two-goal deficit to win a World Cup match without extra time, underlining the champions’ resilience on the biggest stage.
