Argentina staged a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a Round of 16 World Cup match on July 7, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The victory propelled the defending champions into the quarterfinals.
Egypt held a 2-0 lead in the closing stages of the match, and Argentina's chances appeared to diminish further when Lionel Messi missed a penalty kick in the first half. This was Messi's second missed penalty of the tournament, a rare occurrence for the star player.
However, Argentina mounted a furious rally in the final minutes. In the 79th minute, Messi delivered a cross that found Cristian Romero, who scored to narrow Egypt's lead to 2-1. Just four minutes later, Messi himself scored, leveling the match at 2-2 when the ball hit the crossbar and bounced into the net. The decisive goal came in the second minute of stoppage time, with Enzo Fernandez heading in the winner to secure the 3-2 victory.
This match marked a historic moment in the World Cup, as it was the first time a team had won a knockout stage game in regulation time after trailing by two goals as late as the 75th minute.
Messi, 39, has now scored in six consecutive World Cup knockout matches. He has participated in six World Cups, matching Cristiano Ronaldo's record. Argentina is seeking to become the first team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
Argentina will face either Colombia or Switzerland in the quarterfinals, with the match scheduled to take place in Kansas City on Saturday.