Argentina roar back from 2-0 down to beat Egypt and reach the World Cup quarter-finals
The defending champions trailed with eleven minutes left before Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez struck to win 3-2; Messi's goal was his tournament-leading eighth.
Argentina are through to the World Cup quarter-finals, but the defending champions had to survive a scare and produce one of the tournament's great comebacks to get there. Trailing Egypt 2-0 with eleven minutes to play in Atlanta, Argentina scored three times to win 3-2 and book a last-eight meeting in Kansas City on Saturday.
Egypt had stunned the champions, going ahead through Yasser Ibrahim in the 15th minute and doubling their lead when Mostafa Zico struck in the 67th. Argentina looked to be heading out. Then the game turned. Cristian Romero pulled one back with a header on 79 minutes, Lionel Messi levelled four minutes later, and Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround deep into stoppage time, in the 92nd minute, to send the Argentine bench into delirium.
Messi's strike was his eighth of the tournament, more than any other player at the 2026 finals, and the latest twist in a campaign that keeps finding new drama. The finish was chaotic: the match ran well beyond its seven added minutes, Egypt furiously protested the buildup to the winner, and a flurry of cards followed, including a red shown to a member of the Egyptian staff.
It was the second time in these knockouts that Argentina have been pushed to the edge. In the round of 32 they needed extra time to see off a spirited Cape Verde, and here they again refused to lose. The champions will now face the winner of Switzerland and Colombia at Arrowhead Stadium, having shown that whatever else has changed at this expanded World Cup, their capacity to escape has not.
