Atlanta
Argentina is thru to the World Cup quarterfinals after some of the exceptional comebacks, scoring three late unanswered targets to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a rollicking Round of 16 contest in Atlanta on Tuesday.
The outcome itself – the Albiceleste going by means of to the ultimate eight – is just not surprising. But how they received there and the lightning-quick approach they did it would stay on in historical past after 23 of probably the most dramatic minutes that the 2026 World Cup, or certainly any model of this event, might have provided.
The opening minutes have been comparatively evenly matched as each groups felt one another out like boxers at the beginning of a main bout. The electrical crowd in Atlanta was dominated by Argentines, although there have been a few pockets of loud, vibrant followers clad in Egyptian pink.
It was these followers who have been ready to have a good time first as Egypt shocked the world champions with the opening objective. In the fifteenth minute, Yasser Ibrahim rose above the Argentine protection to bury a header previous Emiliano Martínez, beautiful the Albiceleste. A superbly positioned ball from Marwan Attia unlocked the defending champions’ protection, permitting Ibrahim to outmuscle Lisandro Martínez on the essential second.
Argentina’s fortune appeared to change shortly after. A move to Nicolás Tagliafico beat the Egyptian protection earlier than he was introduced down in the field by Haissem Hassan, prompting the referee to instantly name for a penalty. Up stepped Lionel Messi, who smacked a shot low to the fitting nook – bringing out a spectacular diving save by Mostafa Shobeir.
Egypt erupted into celebration as a number of gamers fell to their knees to kiss the pitch, silencing the Argentine devoted for the primary time. It was Messi’s second penalty miss of the event.
Shobeir made one other good cease on a close-range header by Alexis Mac Allister simply after the hydration break as Argentina desperately looked for an equalizer. Messi practically struck minutes afterward a long-range free kick, bending his effort over the wall and off the publish.
Shobeir denied Argentina once more 5 minutes earlier than halftime as Julián Álvarez tried to flip in a cross from Tagliafico, however the diving Egyptian keeper continued his good recreation with an epic save.
The shock of the event appeared to be in the fifty fifth minute when Egypt broke away down the sphere and buried what appeared to be a second objective. However, the video assistant referee (VAR) flagged a foul in the buildup and waved the objective off, stripping the Egyptians of a commanding two-goal benefit and handing the world champions a large reprieve.
Haissem Hassan had made a winding run down the Argentine proper earlier than discovering Pharaohs star Mohamed Salah. The former Liverpool winger then picked out Mostafa Zico, who completed ably. But the play was dominated out for a foul by Marawan Attia on Lisandro Martínez on the different facet of the pitch simply because the Egyptians broke away.
In the 67th minute, Egypt lastly scored one which couldn’t be taken away to make it 2-0. Salah intercepted an Argentine assault to spark a deadly counter, sprinting down the sphere earlier than choosing out Hassan. He reduce into the field and dragged a move again to Zico, who made no mistake, rifling it dwelling to double Egypt’s lead.
From there, Argentina appeared shocked however pressed ahead to climb out of a large gap with solely minutes remaining.
The Albiceleste took a big step in the 79th minute when Cristian Romero continued his late-game heroics, heading dwelling a cross to make it 2-1. It was Romero who saved Argentina in the Round of 32 in opposition to Cape Verde with a header that went off a defender and into the web to seal development in opposition to the African underdogs, and his objective in opposition to Egypt gave his nation hope.
As the sport ticked towards the top of the 90 minutes, Messi and Argentina turned the strain up to its highest doable degree. And then the second for the little genius got here.
Messi performed a ball into the field that was deflected excessive into the air and was nodded down by one among his teammates. The ball pinged round and Messi pounced like a tiger onto the free ball.
His lashed strike was unstoppable, hitting off Shobeir’s hand, off the crossbar and over the road for the 83rd-minute equalizer.
And then in stoppage time, Argentina got here all the way in which again and scored a miraculous winner.
A header from Enzo Fernández, catching the Egyptians on the counterattack, sealed probably the most unimaginable comeback of the event and a recreation that can stay in World Cup historical past.
The Argentine followers danced and sang by means of the ultimate whistle and celebrated with their staff as in the event that they’d gained the cup once more already, the emotions of reduction and jubilation coursing by means of a facet that has gained all of it.
Messi was named the Man of the Match, unsurprisingly, and extends his World Cup report to 21 targets scored in the six tournaments in which he’s performed. His eight targets in the present version have him in the lead for the event’s Golden Boot, awarded to the highest scorer.
Even with all these accolades and historical past behind him, the outcome nonetheless overwhelmed Argentina’s No. 10. As his followers celebrated and sang his title after the ultimate whistle, tears could possibly be seen in the eyes of one of many biggest gamers to ever step foot on a soccer pitch.
It was a second of humanity for an otherworldly participant – and echoed the tears in the eyes of Argentines all through Mercedes-Benz Stadium.