Argentina 3-2 Egypt: a Messi-inspired comeback in the World Cup 2026 round of 16
Trailing 2-0, Argentina turned the game around with three goals in the closing stages, including one from Lionel Messi, to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.
Argentina
Egypt- 90'⚽ Goal for Argentina (E. Fernandez)
- 90'Substitution: ↑ Zizo / ↓ M. Lasheen (Egypt)
- 90'Substitution: ↑ F. Medina / ↓ J. Alvarez (Argentina)
- 90'Substitution: ↑ N. Otamendi / ↓ C. Romero (Argentina)
- 90'Yellow card: Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt)
- 90'Yellow card: Hamdy Fathy (Egypt)
- 90'Yellow card: Marwan Attia (Egypt)
- 90'Final score: Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt
- 83'⚽ Goal for Argentina (L. Messi)
- 80'Substitution: ↑ O. Marmoush / ↓ M. Ziko (Egypt)
- 79'⚽ Goal for Argentina (C. Romero)
- 73'Substitution: ↑ Trezeguet / ↓ H. Hassan (Egypt)
- 73'Substitution: ↑ G. Montiel / ↓ N. Molina (Argentina)
- 67'⚽ Goal for Egypt (M. Ziko)
- 66'Substitution: ↑ L. Martinez / ↓ R. de Paul (Argentina)
- 66'Substitution: ↑ N. Gonzalez / ↓ N. Tagliafico (Argentina)
- 59'VAR review
- 46'Substitution: ↑ H. Fathy / ↓ E. Ashour (Egypt)
- 45'Half-time
- 21'Penalty missed: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- 15'⚽ Goal for Egypt (Y. Ibrahim)
- 0'Kick-off
- -5'Yellow card: Haissem Hassan (Egypt)
Argentina pulled off one of the best comebacks of the 2026 World Cup, beating Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta after trailing by two goals.
Yasser Ibrahim had put Egypt ahead in the 15th minute, before Mostafa Zico doubled the lead in the 67th, giving the Pharaohs a comfortable cushion that looked decisive after an hour of play.
But Argentina answered with three goals in just eleven minutes: Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th, Lionel Messi equalized in the 83rd, and Enzo Fernández struck the winner in stoppage time (90+3).
Argentina dominated possession (61% to 39%) and had 17 shots to Egypt's 5, in a match that stayed free of cards until the closing minutes, which saw four yellow cards shown to Egyptian players.
With the win, Argentina advance to the quarter-final, where they will face Switzerland, who eliminated Colombia on penalties (0-0, 4-3), while Egypt's historic run ends in the round of 16.
