Defending FIFA World Cup champions Argentina have written another stunning chapter of tournament folklore, pulling off one of the most dramatic late comebacks in modern World Cup history to defeat Egypt 3-2 and secure their place in the competition’s quarterfinals. Trailing by two goals with just 11 minutes of regular time remaining on the clock, Lionel Messi’s side refused to accept defeat, rallying to score three unanswered goals and snatch an improbable victory that has sent shockwaves through the tournament.
For the vast majority of the round-of-16 clash in Kansas City, Missouri, it appeared the 39-year-old Messi’s sixth and potentially final World Cup campaign would end in heartbreak. Egypt got off to a dream start in the 15th minute, when defender Yasser Ibrahim beat Argentina center-back Lisandro Martinez to a looping cross from Marwan Attia, nodding the ball into the bottom corner of the net to open the scoring. Just moments later, Argentina was handed a golden chance to level the score after Egypt’s Haissem Hassan brought down Nicolas Tagliafico inside the penalty box, earning a penalty for the defending champions. Messi stepped up to the spot in front of a stunned crowd, but Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir pulled off a spectacular save diving to his left — marking Messi’s second failed penalty attempt of the tournament, following a miss against Austria in the group stage. The first half would bring more frustration for Argentina: Messi saw a long-range effort strike the post, and Shobeir made another close-range stop to deny Julian Alvarez, keeping Egypt’s lead intact going into halftime.
Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage early in the second half, when striker Mostafa Zico finished off a lightning counter-attack. However, video assistant referee review ruled out the goal after confirming a foul in the build-up to the score, cutting short Egypt’s celebrations. Zico would not be denied in the 67th minute, though, when he converted a second similar counter-attack chance to put Egypt up 2-0, leaving Argentina on the brink of elimination. At that point, Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first back-to-back World Cup winners since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 looked all but over.
What followed was a display of resilience that has become synonymous with Argentina’s World Cup identity. Center-back Cristian Romero kickstarted the comeback in the 79th minute, nodding home a header from a set piece to cut Egypt’s lead to 2-1. Four minutes later, Messi found the back of the net to level the score. The goal marked Messi’s eighth of the 2026 tournament and extended his record as the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer to 21 career tournament goals. With the match tied at 2-1 and regulation time expiring, Enzo Fernandez scored the dramatic winner in stoppage time, completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in World Cup history.
Following the final whistle, an emotional Messi was seen in tears, as Argentine players and staff celebrated the extraordinary win. Midfielder Fernandez, who scored the decisive goal, paid tribute to the team’s never-say-die attitude after the match. “We have a phenomenal group, a group that never gives up no matter the difficulties and adversity. We’re always together,” Fernandez said. “Four years have passed since Qatar, and we’ve come to enjoy another World Cup — and we want to win it again. That’s what we’re aiming for.”
Striker Julian Alvarez echoed those sentiments, noting that Argentina’s national character drove the late fightback. “The heart of Argentinians is always something that pushes, that we keep going no matter what, that we give everything until the end. And honestly, with the score 2-0, we looked a bit beaten,” Alvarez said. “There was little time left, but we always manage to get something more by fighting until the end.”
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said he was overwhelmed by his team’s performance, adding: “I’m so emotional. What a group of players, brother.”
This is far from the first time Argentina has produced a heroic late comeback on the World Cup stage. The side claimed a 3-2 victory over West Germany in the 1986 final, and fought to a 3-3 draw before winning a penalty shootout against France to claim the 2022 Qatar World Cup title. Just one round prior in this tournament, Cape Verde pushed Argentina to the brink before the defending champions claimed a 3-2 extra-time win. Tuesday’s comeback against Egypt has already been ranked as even more dramatic than those prior iconic matches.
Argentina will next face Switzerland in the tournament’s quarterfinals this Saturday in Kansas City.