Argentina: Defending champions Argentina produced a dramatic comeback to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, securing their place in the quarterfinals after a thrilling contest.
Egypt took the lead in the 15th minute when Yasser Ibrahim found the back of the net to give his side a 1-0 advantage, a lead they maintained until the end of the first half.
The Egyptian side doubled its lead in the second half through Mostafa Zico, who scored to make it 2-0 and put Argentina under significant pressure.
Argentina began its fightback in the closing stages of the second half, pulling one goal back to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
In the 83rd minute, Lionel Messi scored Argentina’s second goal to level the match at 2-2. It was Messi’s eighth goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026, making him the tournament’s leading scorer once again.
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Earlier in the match, Messi missed a penalty, marking his second missed spot-kick of the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina maintained relentless pressure in stoppage time and scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute of the seven minutes added on, taking a 3-2 lead that remained intact until the final whistle.
Two of Argentina’s three goals came in the closing moments of the second half, while the winning goal was scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time, completing a remarkable comeback and sending the defending champions into the quarterfinals.
