New Delhi: Argentina set a historic record in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by coming back from a two-goal deficit as late as the 78th minute to defeat Egypt 3-2 in regulation time. With this dramatic turnaround in the Round of 16, Argentina became the only team which made a comeback after being 2-0 down before rallying to win without extra time.
Egyptian defender Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoresheet in the 15th minute with a beautifully guided header. In the 58th minute, Egypt counter-attacked fiercely, and Mostafa Zico slotted the ball home for what appeared to be 2-0. However, a lengthy VAR review disallowed the goal due to an earlier build-up foul where Lisandro Martínez was stamped on.
Egypt refused to be denied. Mohamed Salah orchestrated a brilliant transition, passing the ball to Haissem Hassan, who fed it back to Mostafa Zico inside the penalty box. After a brilliant run, Zico swept it past Emiliano Martínez to put the Pharaohs up by two.
The historic comeback began from the 79th minute when Lionel Messi crafted a sublime cross inside the box, which was headed by Cristian Romero. Just four minutes later, the arena erupted. Tracking a loose ball at the edge of the area, Messi fired a spectacular first-time half-volley off the underside of the crossbar.
The winner for Argentina came in stoppage time. Lautaro Martinez got ample space on the right flank and delivered a lofted cross into the box. Enzo Fernandez timed his run perfectly, burying a bullet header into the second post to seal Argentina’s spot in the quarterfinals.
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‘What a desire to win’
Praise showered on Argentina and Messi after the performance.
“What a fighting spirit, what a desire to win, what a battle and dedication from everyone! This is exactly what the fan expects from his team in the World Cup,” Brazilian legend Rivaldo posted on Instagram. “As for talking about Leo Messi, it’s a given. What a player! At 39 years old, playing his sixth World Cup in his career, he still shows the same passion for the Argentina jersey; he celebrates, he fights, he cries, and once again he is the decisive player.”
“I am Brazilian, I love my country, and I will always cheer for the Brazilian national team. Competition is part of football, but I also know how to appreciate and admire when I watch a great match and a team that gives everything it has on the field. Matches like these elevate the value of football, and they are worthy of the World Cup. Congratulations to Argentina on qualifying,” he added.
Meanwhile, former England midfielder David Beckham shared two stories on Instagram, praising the performance of Messi.
“This is one very special human. Not because of what he does in the pitch but who he is off it,” he wrote on Instagram.
However, Lionel Scaloni’s men have shown glaring tactical vulnerabilities during the 2026 World Cup. From suffocating in the midfield, to depending too much on Messi, to failing to quickly transition in defence, their deep-seated structural issues have turned routine knockout matches into frantic escapes.
Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals.