Lionel Messi on Tuesday (July 7) became the first footballer in the world to score in six consecutive FIFA World Cup knockout matches, with his equaliser to make it 2-2 for Argentina against Egypt in the dramatic Round of 16 game in Atlanta. Argentina went on to win the match 3-2.
Before today’s equaliser against Egypt, Messi was on a five-match knockout scoring streak — beginning en route to and during Argentina’s 2022 title win, followed by the opening knockout game of the 2026 campaign:
- 2022 Round of 16 vs Australia – Messi’s first-ever World Cup knockout goal, slotting home after Nicolás Otamendi’s touch fell into his path, as Argentina won 2-1.
- 2022 Quarter-final vs Netherlands – A composed penalty to make it 2-0, after setting up Nahuel Molina’s opener, in a match Argentina eventually won on penalties.
- 2022 Semi-final vs Croatia – Another penalty, part of a 3-0 rout that sent Argentina into the final.
- 2022 Final vs France – Two goals (one penalty, one in extra time) in the 3-3 thriller, before Argentina won on penalties to lift the trophy.
- 2026 Round of 32 vs Cape Verde – His first goal of this campaign’s knockout stage, finished off Lisandro Martínez’s long assist.
That run of five put him level with, and then ahead of, the previous record-holders, Sárosi and Vavá, who each managed five straight knockout goals in the 1930s-60s.
A magical Messi performance against Egypt
Just when you thought Messi’s legend couldn’t grow any bigger, it did. Argentina were trailing
2-0 in the 78th minute — a situation which included Messi’s huge contributionin the form of a penalty miss. No team ever in this tournament had won a game from this situation without going into extra time.
But Messi assisted Cristian Romero’s header with a pinpoint cross in the 79th minute, opening the floodgates. Only four minutes later, he volleyed in a superb equaliser amid chaos in the six-yard box to make it 2-2. It was his eighth goal in the competition and — thanks to Enzo Fernandez’s winner in injury time — one that he’ll remember more than his most.
