Messi misses and scores in historic 3-2 Argentina comeback v Egypt
· Yahoo Sports
Enzo Fernandez headed a stoppage time winner as defending champions Argentina overcame a missed Lionel Messi penalty and a 2-0 deficit until the 79th minute with a historic 3-2 comeback triumph over Egypt in the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday.
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Yasser Ibrahim in the 15th and Mostafa Ziko in the 67th had put the Pharaos 2-0 up as an upset of epic proportions loomed, with Messi having missed a second spot kick at the tournament in the 21st when he failed to beat goalkeeper Mostapha Shoubeir.
Argentina were staring into the abyss but Cristian Romero headed in Messi's cross in the 79th, Messi smashed the equalizer in off the crossbar four minutes later and Fernandez clinched the improbable comeback in the third minute of stoppage time.
It was the latest comeback from two goals down without extra time in World Cup history, statisticians Opta said.
Tears of joy
"What a group of players, man," a highly emotional coach Lionel Scaloni said while Messi was thrown into the air by his team-mates and was moved to tears.
Fernandez said: "I'd been longing for that goal for about three years, since the Qatar World Cup. Being able to experience moments like this, honestly, I thank God, I'm privileged.
"I want to highlight my team-mates - we have a phenomenal group, a group that never gives up no matter the difficulties and adversity. We're always together. Thanks to my team-mates, to the coaching staff, and to everyone cheering us on here and all the Argentines back home in Argentina. Well, one more step forward."
More Messi goals despite miss
Like in the last 32 win against Austria, Messi found the net after failing to convert from the spot.
The talisman returned to the top of the tournament scorer charts on his own with now eight goals, one ahead of Norway's Erling Haaland and France's Kylian Mbappé.
The 39-year-old has scored in nine World Cup games in a row for an overall tournament tally of 21, both records.
Brave Egypt
While Argentina move into a quarter-final against Colombia or Switzerland, Mohamed Salah's Egypt can leave with their heads up high after a superb performance before the late collapse.
Shoubeir made a series of top saves and Ziko had a first goal nullified because of a foul in the build-up.
Egypt draw first blood, Messi misses
Egypt sat deep from the kick-off but also tried their luck and the early lead resulted from a corner kick they won.
It was played short and Marwan Attia eventually crossed from the right to Ibrahim, who beat Lisandro Martínez and headed home emphatically.
Shortly afterwards Haissem Hassan felled Nicolás Tagliafico in the area but Messi's penalty was tame and Shoubeir punched the ball away diving to his left.
Argentina pressed on but in vain. Shoubeir saved a close-range header from Alexis Mac Allister which lacked precision in the 28th, Messi's free-kick hit the outside post three minutes later, and Shoubeir also miraculously denied Julián Alvarez from point blank range in the 39th.
Ziko shocks Argentina for 2-0
The one-way traffic continued after the break but the ball was suddenly in Argentina's net again when Salah played a pin-point pass to Ziko to drill home. A video review however revealed that Attia had tripped Lisandro Martinez to win the ball in Egypt's half.
But there was nothing wrong in the 67th on another Egypt counter, Salah feeding Hassan on the right and his sharp cross was fired home by Ziko at the near post.
Comeback for the ages
Argentina now had a mountain to climb and somehow finally managed to break down the Egypt defence.
Romero headed in Messi's cross in the 79th and Messi himself smashed the equalizer himself in off the crossbar four minutes later, celebrating an absolute ecstasy.
The game seemed to be heading to extra time but it never came.
Salah and his team called for a penalty when he was dispossessed in the Argentina area, Argentina launched a counter attack and Lautaro Martinez' cross found Fernandez to head the winner into the bottom corner to complete the monumental comeback.
Egypt were furious because of the Salah incident as tempers flared while Argentina held on for a win that had appeared impossible just a few minutes earlier.
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after the victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. Tom Weller/dpaFrench referee Francois Letexier (L) speaks with the players after Egypt conceded their third goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. Tom Weller/dpaEgypt's Mostafa Ziko (R) scores his side's second goal of the game during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. Tom Weller/dpaArgentina's players celebrate the goal that tied the score during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. Tom Weller/dpaArgentina's Enzo Fernandez (back) scores his side's third goal opf the game during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. Tom Weller/dpaArgentina's Lionel Messi scores his side's second goal of the game during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. Tom Weller/dpa