Argentina kept their FIFA World Cup title defence alive with a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in Tuesday’s Round of 16 clash at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Boldsports report.
The reigning champions trailed by two goals before a stunning late rally saw Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández score within 13 dramatic minutes to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Messi entered the knockout match in outstanding form after scoring seven goals in his first four matches of the tournament. Although he missed an early penalty—his second unsuccessful spot kick of the competition—the Argentina captain still delivered when it mattered most. He provided the assist for Romero’s goal before firing home the equaliser just four minutes later to ignite the comeback.
Egypt produced one of their finest World Cup displays for much of the contest. Yasser Ibrahim headed the Pharaohs ahead in the 15th minute before goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir denied Messi from the penalty spot to preserve their advantage.
Argentina dominated possession but struggled to break down Egypt’s disciplined defence. The holders also survived a scare when a second Egyptian goal was ruled out after a foul in the build-up following a VAR review.
The African side doubled their lead in the 67th minute through Mostafa Zaki Abdelraouf, widely known as Zico, leaving Argentina facing a shock elimination.
Argentina finally found a breakthrough in the 79th minute when Cristian Romero headed home from Messi’s delivery.
Four minutes later, Messi levelled the score with a powerful finish after collecting the ball inside the area, completing a remarkable personal recovery following his earlier penalty miss.
With stoppage time approaching, Lautaro Martínez delivered an inviting cross that Enzo Fernández met with a superb header to complete one of the most memorable comebacks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The victory sends Argentina into the World Cup quarter-finals, where the defending champions will face the winner of the tie between Colombia and Switzerland. The dramatic escape also extends Messi’s pursuit of back-to-back World Cup titles as Argentina continue their quest to retain football’s biggest prize.
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