Argentina produced one of the great comebacks of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, coming from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 and book their place in the quarter-finals.
Egypt, roared on by their supporters, raced into a stunning 2-0 lead and were still ahead deep into the second half. As late as the 78th minute, the scoreboard read Argentina 0, Egypt 2, and an upset of seismic proportions was on the cards against one of the tournament favorites.
Then Lionel Messi took over. The Argentine captain, still producing magic at the biggest stage of the game, sparked a furious late rally that turned the match on its head in a matter of minutes. Argentina found the net three times in the closing stages to complete an extraordinary turnaround and win 3-2.
One of those goals carried extra historical weight: it was recognized as the 3,000th goal scored in FIFA World Cup history, a milestone that added an unforgettable footnote to an already dramatic night.
Messi was named Superior Player of the Match for his role in the comeback, continuing to add to his legendary World Cup legacy as Argentina push on in search of another title.
The result sends Argentina through to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals on July 11 in Kansas City, while Egypt exit the tournament with their heads held high after pushing the two-time reigning champions to the brink.