Atlanta: Lionel Messi delivered another unforgettable World Cup performance, inspiring Argentina to a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt at Atlanta Stadium after the defending champions looked set for a shock elimination.
The dramatic win sparked emotional scenes at full-time, with Messi overcome with emotion as he embraced his teammates before being lifted into the air by the squad in front of jubilant Argentina supporters.
Match highlights
Earlier in the match, the mood had been very different. Giant screens inside the stadium captured the 39-year-old looking devastated as Argentina trailed 2-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining, a result that would have sent the title holders crashing out of the tournament.
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Egypt had stunned the reigning champions with a disciplined and fearless display. Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring before Mostafa Zico doubled the lead in the second half. Zico had also found the net earlier in the match, but that effort was ruled out following a VAR review for a foul in the build-up.
Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir was outstanding throughout the contest, producing several important saves, including denying Messi from the penalty spot in the first half.
The miss was the Argentine captain’s fourth failed World Cup penalty and his second penalty miss in the tournament after also failing to convert against Austria, making him the first player, excluding penalty shootouts, to miss two penalties in a single World Cup.
Despite the setbacks, Argentina refused to surrender. With 11 minutes remaining, Messi swung in a cross that Cristian Romero headed into the net to cut the deficit and revive Argentina’s hopes. Just four minutes and 18 seconds later, Messi produced the moment the defending champions had been waiting for, smashing a powerful left-footed effort beyond Shobeir and in off the crossbar to level the score.
Egypt, who had defended heroically for much of the match, were finally broken deep into stoppage time when Enzo Fernández rose to head home the winner, completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in World Cup history.
Although Messi’s pace has diminished with age, his influence remains undiminished. Conserving his energy for decisive moments, the veteran captain once again demonstrated his unmatched football intelligence, vision, and composure, providing an assist, scoring the equaliser, and leading Argentina’s late resurgence.
The victory kept Argentina’s World Cup defence alive. It highlighted why Messi’s teammates are willing to shoulder much of the defensive work, trusting their captain to decide matches when it matters most.
For Egypt, it was a heartbreaking end to a courageous campaign. After coming within minutes of producing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, they were left to reflect on a match in which they had led comfortably before Argentina’s extraordinary late rally turned the contest on its head.
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