Argentina reached the World Cup quarter-finals after a late turnaround against Egypt, winning 3-2 with Enzo Fernandez scoring in the 92nd minute at Atlanta Stadium. Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico had earlier given Egypt a 2-0 lead, before Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi helped Argentina pull level in a tense knockout clash.
This World Cup victory also saw Messi equal Miroslav Klose’s mark of 14 knockout appearances and extend several personal records. Egypt, meanwhile, went close to a major upset, becoming the first CAF team to lead reigning champions by at least two goals in a World Cup match before Argentina’s response changed the tie.
Argentina had never previously recovered from two goals down in 13 World Cup attempts, yet this team overturned
that history. Egypt led 2-0 by the 67th minute through Ibrahim and Zico, and Argentina trailed at half-time in a World Cup match for the first time since the 2010 quarter-final defeat against Germany, despite creating regular chances.
Before kick-off, Argentina staff highlighted Egypt’s threat, especially after the difficult win over Cape Verde in the previous round, and those concerns were justified. Egypt pressed aggressively from the start and restricted Argentina’s rhythm, while quick counter-attacks through Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan consistently unsettled Lionel Scaloni’s defence during a demanding World Cup evening.
The opening goal arrived on 15 minutes when Ibrahim climbed above Lisandro Martinez to meet Marwan Attia’s precise cross at the back post and head past Emiliano Martinez. Argentina’s problems increased soon after, as a smart pass from Fernandez released Nicolas Tagliafico, who was then brought down in the area by Haissem Hassan.
The foul gave Messi a first-half penalty, yet Mostafa Shobeir guessed correctly, diving left to save. That failure later ensured Messi entered World Cup history for an unwanted reason.Shobeir then blocked Alexis Mac Allister’s header and saw a Messi free-kick hit the post.2 - Lionel Messi is the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties at a single edition (excluding shootouts). Shock. pic.twitter.com/PThOcWlcatOptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2026
The Egypt goalkeeper produced another crucial stop six minutes before half-time, standing tall to deny Julian Alvarez from close range with an instinctive save. Argentina reached the break with an expected goals figure of 1.51, the highest xG of any side failing to score in a first half at this World Cup edition.
World Cup Argentina vs Egypt: disallowed goal, Egypt surge, and Zico impact
Early in the second half, Egypt thought a second World Cup goal had arrived when Hassan surged forward and Salah set up Zico, who finished clinically. VAR intervened, though, and the referee ruled out the strike for a foul by Attia on Martinez during the move, briefly relieving Argentina’s defence.
That warning did not change the pattern. Egypt broke forward again on 67 minutes, with Salah driving the attack and finding Hassan in space. Hassan delivered a precise cross into the six-yard box and this time Zico’s close-range finish stood, giving Egypt a 2-0 advantage and placing Argentina’s World Cup title defence under serious threat.
World Cup Argentina vs Egypt: Romero header, Messi strike, and Fernandez winner
Argentina responded strongly, transforming the match within four minutes. First, Romero met Messi’s teasing cross from the right and headed past Shobeir to reduce the deficit. Soon after, in the 83rd minute, Messi collected the ball on the edge of the area and drove a powerful shot in off the crossbar, despite Shobeir’s touch.
Substitute Lautaro Martinez then influenced the decisive attack during stoppage time. Lautaro Martinez sprinted onto Alvarez’s through ball down the left, controlled calmly, and delivered a measured cross. Fernandez timed the run from midfield, met the cross with a firm header, and scored Argentina’s 92nd-minute winner, sending the World Cup holders into the last eight.
Messi finished the game with one goal and one assist, recovering from the saved penalty to extend a remarkable personal World Cup run. Messi has now scored in nine successive World Cup matches and is the first player to find the net in six straight knockout games. The forward moved to 21 World Cup goals overall, stretching the all-time tournament record.
For Egypt, this World Cup exit follows a display that troubled the champions for long spells and included a standout performance from Shobeir, who made two of the four penalty saves recorded at this tournament, excluding shoot-outs. Argentina progress to face either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals, carrying momentum from another recovery and relying again on key contributions from Messi and Fernandez.
#FIFAWorldCup #Argentina 3 (Cristian Romero, Lionel #Messi y Enzo Fernndez)#Egipto2 (Yasser Ibrahim y Mostafa Ziko) Final del partido! Imposible no ilusionarse. Nos vemos en cuartos de final! pic.twitter.com/WufX8l2IME Seleccin Argentina(@Argentina) July 7, 2026
