With elimination looming, Lionel Scaloni’s side displayed the resilience and fighting spirit that have defined their recent success, scoring three unanswered goals in the final 15 minutes to keep their title defense alive.
Egypt appeared on course for one of the tournament’s biggest upsets after racing to a 2-0 advantage by the 67th minute. Their confidence was boosted even further after Argentina captain Lionel Messi failed to convert from the penalty spot in the first half, with the Egyptian goalkeeper denying the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner from 12 yards.
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Rather than deflating Argentina, the missed penalty became the catalyst for an extraordinary turnaround.
Cristian Romero ignited the comeback with a well-taken goal in the 79th minute before Messi redeemed himself just four minutes later, calmly finding the equalizer in the 83rd minute to breathe new life into Argentina’s title defense.
With extra time seemingly inevitable, Enzo Fernández completed the remarkable comeback in stoppage time, scoring the decisive winner in the 90+3rd minute to send Argentina into celebration and Egypt crashing out of the tournament.
The dramatic victory sparked emotional scenes at the final whistle. Messi, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the comeback, was seen in tears as teammates surrounded their captain to celebrate one of the most memorable victories of Argentina’s campaign.
Reflecting on the rollercoaster of emotions, Messi admitted the missed penalty weighed heavily on him before he eventually found redemption.
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi at the 2026 World Cup so far:
🥇 Most goals (8)
🥇 Most shots (29)
🥇 Most shots on target (17)
🥇 Most big chances created (6)
🥇 Best xG overperformance (+3.34)
🥇 Highest WhoScored rating (9.06)
=🥇 Most goal involvements (9)
=🥇 Most through balls attempted… pic.twitter.com/NVQBTR6X1L— WhoScored (@WhoScored) July 7, 2026
“The truth is that it was a moment of release, a release for all of us. I was feeling intense anger because of the penalty I wasted, and because of the way I took it. I felt like in that important moment, I had let the team down,” Messi said after the game.
“But fortunately, God had something special in store for me once again in the end, and I was able to score the equalizer. That was a huge release, and immense joy for us, and for those fans who came again and prove every day what it means to be Argentine, and how much pride they give us,” he added.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni was equally emotional after watching his side complete one of the greatest comebacks of his tenure.
Known for his composed demeanor on the touchline, Scaloni admitted the dramatic finish overwhelmed him, praising both his players and his captain for refusing to surrender despite facing elimination.
“I’m very emotional, the players call me the crybaby. I even teared up in the dressing room. But the players also feel many emotions, they are playing for their country, but this was unforgettable and one of the best moments,” Scaloni continued.
The Argentine manager reserved special praise for Messi, whose influence once again proved decisive on football’s biggest stage.
“Messi showed it too. I don’t know if the emotion is on the same level as the World Cup final, I can’t be in Messi’s head, but he plays football for moments like this. He loves playing, feeling the ball, feeling the emotion and we want him to enjoy this for every final moment because once you retire, you regret it for the rest of your life.
“I don’t know how many times you have this feeling of a team that never gives up in adversity, but that is this team and sometimes tactics are forgotten and you just go for it,” he concluded.
Messi’s equalizer not only rescued Argentina but also added another remarkable chapter to his legendary World Cup career.
The goal was the 39-year-old’s eighth of the tournament, moving him to the top of the Golden Boot race. It also saw him score in a record six consecutive FIFA World Cup knockout matches while extending his scoring streak to nine straight World Cup appearances—another milestone in a career already filled with historic achievements.
Argentina will now shift its focus to a quarterfinal showdown against Switzerland, with another victory moving the defending champions one step closer to retaining the World Cup trophy.
With Messi once again delivering on the biggest stage and Argentina proving they can overcome even the toughest adversity, their quest for back-to-back World Cup titles remains firmly alive.
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