ATLANTA July 7, 2026 — Lionel Messi once again proved why he remains the heartbeat of Argentina, scoring in his ninth consecutive FIFA World Cup match as the defending champions mounted one of the greatest comebacks in tournament history.
Trailing 2-0 late in the Round of 16 clash against Egypt at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, Argentina scored three goals in the final 13 minutes plus stoppage time to win 3-2 and advance to the quarterfinals.
Egypt, coached by Hossam Hassan, looked on course for a famous upset. Yasser Ibrahim headed them in front in the 15th minute, and Mostafa Zico doubled the lead in the 67th minute. With the clock ticking down and Argentina facing elimination, the comeback began.
Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th minute with a powerful header from a Messi cross. Four minutes later, Messi himself struck, rifling home a first-time finish to make it 2-2. In the second minute of stoppage time, Enzo Fernández headed the dramatic winner.
The goal was Messi’s eighth of the 2026 tournament and extended his all-time record streak — he has now scored in nine successive World Cup matches (spanning the 2022 and 2026 editions). FIFA immediately highlighted the milestone on its official channels.
Argentina had earlier seen a penalty saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, adding to the tension before the late heroics.
This was the first time in World Cup history that a team won a knockout-stage match in regulation time after trailing by two goals as late as the 75th minute. Argentina’s resilience once again came to the fore under coach Lionel Scaloni.
Egypt’s players and staff were left devastated, with coach Hassan later describing the result as “entirely undeserved” amid complaints about officiating decisions.
Argentina will face the winner of the Switzerland vs Colombia match in the quarterfinals. Messi, now 39, continues to defy age and expectations, inspiring his team with moments of magic when they need it most.
The dramatic victory keeps alive Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958–1962.
Key match facts
- Goals: Ibrahim (15′), Zico (67′) — Romero (79′), Messi (83′), Fernández (90+2′)
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Stage: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16
Argentina lives to fight another day — and Messi’s legend grows even larger.
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