Defending champions Argentina rode on goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernandez to script a thrilling comeback win over Egypt and storm into the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals. Mohamed Salah's bid for World Cup glory ended in heartbreak following the hard-fought game.
Argentina staged a breathtaking comeback in Atlanta, rescuing their World Cup campaign just as it seemed entirely lost. For the opening 78 minutes, Argentina looked sluggish, disorganized, and completely out of ideas, putting them on the brink of one of the most stunning upsets in tournament history.
Egypt put on a masterclass in defensive resilience, anchored by a heroic performance from goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir. It comfortably held a shocking two-goal advantage that looked destined to secure a miraculous victory.
Argentina eliminates Egypt in a hard-fought World Cup clash to reach quarterfinals
Just as despair set in, Lionel Messi took control of the match to ignite a stunning turnaround. Despite a frustrating start that included a missed penalty, the legendary playmaker willed his team back into the contest. He first set up Romero with a precise assist for a headed goal, before unleashing a fierce, emphatic strike off the crossbar himself to level the score and completely re-energize the Argentine side.
The drama reached its peak in stoppage time as Argentina completed the fairytale comeback. A brilliant pass from Julián Alvarez sent Lautaro Martínez racing down the right flank, who then delivered a perfect cross into the box.
Enzo Fernandez met it with a dramatic 92nd-minute header, sending the stadium into absolute pandemonium and sealing a historic victory that booked Argentina's ticket to the quarter-finals and saved the match from going into extra time.
Argentina will face the winners of the Colombia-Switzerland match in the Last Eight clash. This will be the last Round of 16 clash before the World Cup advances to the Last Eight. The match is set to kick off at 1:30 AM IST.
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