With less than 11 minutes remaining in regulation, Argentina managed to overcome a daunting two-goal deficit against Egypt to keep their 2026 World Cup dreams alive. Following the breathtaking match, a humble Lionel Messi offered nothing but praise and deep respect for his teammates’ incredible resilience.
“This group never gives up, we fight until the very end,” Messi, who broke into tears after the win, said. “We managed to turn the game around—what this group did today is just crazy. I’m incredibly happy and so glad the fans can keep enjoying what we do.”
Messi spearheaded the frantic fightback, providing a crucial assist before netting his eighth goal of the tournament to level the score at 2-2 in a matter of minutes. Shortly after, a dramatic header from Enzo Fernandez sealed the 3-2 victory, punching Argentina’s ticket to the quarterfinals, where they now await their next opponent.
Lionel Messi acknowledges it has not been an easy World Cup
For many fans, the 2026 World Cup has been full of surprises due to the emergence of multiple dark horses. Lionel Messi shares that sentiment, confirming that the tournament has been a grueling test for the reigning defending champions.
“I’m so happy we qualified, things had gotten really difficult,” Messi added. “We suffered immensely once again, but this is the World Cup. Every single match is turning out this way.”
Egypt held a commanding 2-0 lead until the 79th minute, when Messi stepped up with a brilliant assist for Cristian Romero. Just four minutes later, the icon made World Cup history by netting his eighth goal of the tournament. Egypt had kept Argentina pinned against the wall for most of the match, until the La Albiceleste captain took matters into his own hands to spark the historic turnaround.
Argentina keep the dream alive
While Egypt’s coach voiced frustrations over favoritism towards Messi and Argentina, the reality remains that the South Americans advanced after the African side failed to protect a solid 2-0 advantage with less than 11 minutes remaining in regulation.
Now, Argentina await their next opponent in the quarterfinals. The dream of securing back-to-back World Cup titles remains firmly alive, but it will be a treacherous road ahead in one of the most fiercely competitive tournaments in recent history.
