For 79 minutes in Atlanta, Lionel Messi looked every bit a 39-year-old struggling against the relentless march of time. His penalty had been saved, his passes were astray, and his Argentina side trailed Egypt by two goals. Yet by the final whistle, tears of relief and joy streamed down his face, having orchestrated one of the most stunning comebacks in World Cup history.
The Penalty Miss and Early Struggles
The evening began with a grim sense of déjà vu. After Cristiano Ronaldo had departed the tournament in tears the night before, Messi appeared destined for the same fate. In the 21st minute, he stepped up to the spot after a foul, but Mostafa Shobeir dived low to his right to palm the ball away. It was Messi’s second penalty miss of the tournament – the first player to achieve that unwanted record in a single World Cup.
“Messi misses his second penalty of the 2026 World Cup, as his effort is saved by Egypt's Mostafa Shobeir in Atlanta.” – BBC Sport
As the game wore on, the Argentine captain’s frustration mounted. Free-kicks sailed over the bar, passes fell short, and he was bundled off the ball with alarming ease. When Mostafa Zico doubled Egypt’s lead in the 67th minute, a shock elimination felt inevitable.
Tactical Shift Sparks Revival
Then came the change that flipped the script. Manager Lionel Scaloni introduced Lautaro Martinez for Rodrigo De Paul, allowing Messi to drift toward the right flank. Liberated from the congested centre, he suddenly found pockets of space. The move paid instant dividends. In the 79th minute, Messi swung in a wicked cross from the right, and Cristian Romero rose to head home.
That goal ignited Argentina. Moments later, Messi embarked on a slaloming run through the Egypt defence, almost setting up Martinez for an equaliser. The 39-year-old was rolling back the years, darting between bodies with a desperation that electrified the crowd.
Messi's Magical Resurgence
Then, in the 83rd minute, the moment of magic arrived. Lurking just inside the box, Messi latched onto a half-volley, his technique perfect as ever. Shobeir got a hand to it but could only push the ball into the roof of the net. The comeback was level, and Messi had rewritten the narrative once more.
“These guys are streetfighters. They will not give up. I loved it. Amazing game. The quality of Argentina's goals were amazing.” – Roy Keane on ITV
Deep into stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez completed the great escape with a magnificent header, sealing a 3-2 victory and a place in the quarter-finals. Messi, overcome with emotion, wept on the pitch – a stark contrast to the tears of Ronaldo 24 hours earlier.
Key Takeaways
- Messi’s resilience: Despite a dreadful opening hour and a historic penalty miss, he refused to be defined by failure, delivering a goal and an assist in the final 11 minutes.
- Tactical acumen: Scaloni’s switch to move Messi wider unlocked Egypt’s stubborn defence and changed the game’s momentum.
- Argentina’s fighting spirit: Labelled “streetfighters” by Roy Keane, the world champions showed the mentality that could yet carry them to back-to-back titles.
- Egypt’s heartbreak: They held the lead for over an hour and were minutes from a historic upset before the collapse – a cruel end to a brave campaign.
Quick Facts
Final Score: Argentina 3-2 Egypt
Goal Scorers: Ibrahim (15'), Zico (67'); Romero (79'), Messi (83'), Fernandez (90+2')
Messi’s Stats: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 penalty saved
Historical Note: Messi is the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup tournament.
Next Match: Argentina advance to the quarter-finals; Egypt eliminated.
Source: Sky Sports Football