Messi inspires Argentina comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta

Lionel Messi sparks Argentina’s thrilling 3-2 comeback over Egypt in Atlanta, showcasing leadership and late-match brilliance.

Messi inspires Argentina comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Publish: 08.07.2026
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Lionel Messi inspires Argentina comeback against Egypt in Atlanta

Argentina staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Egypt 3-2 at Atlanta Stadium, coach Lionel Scaloni’s side overturning a 2-0 deficit late in the match on Saturday as Lionel Messi played a decisive role in the victory.

Egypt had taken the lead through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, with goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir producing several key saves and a Zico effort earlier ruled out by VAR for a foul at the opposite end.

Messi missed a first-half penalty after Shobeir saved his spot-kick, marking the second missed World Cup penalty of Messi’s tournament, but he remained central to Argentina’s response in the closing stages.

With 11 minutes remaining Messi provided the cross for Cristiano Romero’s header that began the turnaround, and four minutes later Messi curled a left-footed shot past Shobeir that struck the bar and went in.

Argentina completed the comeback in stoppage time when Enzo Fernández scored with a header, sealing the 3-2 win and eliminating Egypt from the tournament.

The victory sends Argentina into the quarter-finals to face either Switzerland or Colombia, while Messi extended his record of scoring in six consecutive World Cup knockout matches and now has eight goals in the tournament.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, reporting for BBC Radio 5 Live from Atlanta, described Argentina’s recovery as “incredible” and highlighted the impact of Messi’s assist and goal along with effective substitutions.

Opta win-probability data showed Argentina’s chances at just 0.6% when Romero reduced the deficit, underscoring the scale of the turnaround.

Argentina’s performance combined defensive resilience and attacking quality beyond Messi’s contributions, and the team advanced while maintaining their status as strong contenders in the competition.

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Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
A digital news platform delivering developments in Türkiye and the world to its readers with an objective and principled perspective. Liberal TR Haber Merkezi.
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