In a thrilling Round of 16 match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, defending champions Argentina overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a dramatic late comeback, securing their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
Egypt stunned the reigning champions by taking a 2-0 lead late in the match, with goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko. However, Argentina mounted an extraordinary fightback in the final stages. Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th minute, Lionel Messi equalized with a clinical finish in the 83rd minute, and Enzo Fernández headed home the winner in the second minute of stoppage time.
The victory marks one of the most memorable comebacks in World Cup knockout history, with Argentina scoring three unanswered goals after trailing 2-0 heading into the closing stages. Messi’s contribution extended his record of scoring in consecutive World Cup knockout matches.
Head Coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team’s resilience: “This group never gives up. The character shown today is what defines champions. We are proud to continue fighting in this tournament.” Argentina will face the winner of Switzerland vs. Colombia in the quarter-finals.