Lionel Messi broke down in tears at Atlanta Stadium after inspiring one of the most dramatic comebacks in World Cup history, dragging Argentina back from the brink of elimination against Egypt.
With less than 20 minutes remaining and Argentina trailing 2-0, the defending champions looked destined for an early exit that would have mirrored Cristiano Ronaldo’s tearful farewell to the tournament following Portugal’s injury-time defeat to Spain. Instead, Argentina produced three goals in just 14 minutes to complete a stunning turnaround.
Egypt had built their lead through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, with goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir putting in a standout performance that included saving a first-half penalty from Messi — the fourth spot-kick he has missed at a World Cup, and only the second tournament in which he’s failed to convert two penalties outside of a shootout.
But Argentina refused to fold. Cristiano Romero headed home from a Messi cross with 11 minutes left, and less than five minutes later Messi himself curled a left-footed effort past Shobeir and in off the crossbar to level the score. Enzo Fernandez then completed the comeback with a stoppage-time header, sending Argentina through to the quarter-finals and sparking wild celebrations among the team and their fans.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, described the turnaround as spectacular, noting that Argentina had looked out of the tournament before Messi took over and turned the game around.
The result carries significant weight for England too. Had Egypt held on, England’s route to a first men’s World Cup final since 1966 would have opened up considerably. Instead, Argentina and Messi remain a looming threat in the draw.
Messi, now 39, became the first player in World Cup history to score in six straight knockout-phase matches, taking his tally for the tournament to eight goals — the most through five games by any player since Gerd Muller’s ten for West Germany in 1970. Over his last nine World Cup appearances, he has now been directly involved in 16 goals, scoring 13 and assisting three.
Opta’s data had given Argentina just a 0.6% chance of winning at the moment Romero scored his equalizer, underlining the scale of the comeback — the latest a team has ever recovered from two goals down to win a World Cup match without extra time. In a tournament already filled with drama, including England’s own thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico, this may go down as the best match of the World Cup so far.
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