Argentina came from behind to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Egypt took an early lead with Yasser Ibrahim scoring in the 15th minute and Mostafa Ziko adding a second goal in the 67th minute [1, 2, 3]. Argentina appeared out of the match at 2-0 but rallied with three late goals to secure the win [2, 3].

Lionel Messi missed a first-half penalty, with Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir saving the shot, marking Messi’s second penalty miss in this tournament [1, 2, 3]. Despite the miss, Messi extended his World Cup scoring record to 21 goals by netting an equaliser in the 83rd minute, marking his ninth consecutive World Cup game with a goal [3, 4].

Cristian Romero started the comeback with a goal in the 79th minute to make it 2-1 for Argentina, followed by Messi’s late equaliser [1, 2]. The winning goal came three minutes into stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez scored with a header assisted by Lautaro Martinez’s cross from the left flank [1, 2, 3]. After the final whistle, Messi was seen shedding tears of joy and embracing teammates [3, 4].

Egypt’s Mostafa Shobeir delivered an outstanding performance, making several key saves, including the crucial penalty stop against Messi [1, 3]. Egypt had a goal disallowed at the 62nd minute after VAR ruled a foul on Lisandro Martinez in the build-up to Mostafa Ziko’s strike, a decision that sparked dissatisfaction from Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan and the Egyptian Football Association, who complained of inconsistent refereeing decisions [2, 5, 6]. However, no official controversy was recorded beyond Egypt’s concerns [1, 2, 3].

Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni made three changes from the previous match, recalling Julián Alvarez and starting Lautaro Martínez [3, 4]. Scaloni praised his team’s persistence, saying, "Until the final whistle, we don't give up on any ball and we keep playing the way we know how" [7]. Carlos Tevez highlighted the team’s resilience, stating, "The real assessment is the heart they showed, the determination not to give up" [7].

Argentina has conceded four goals in two knockout matches compared to just one goal allowed during the group stage [7]. After the victory, the team will return to training ahead of their quarter-final match scheduled for July 11, 2026, in Kansas City against either Colombia or Switzerland [2, 3, 7, 6]. Scaloni noted Switzerland’s strength, calling them "an incredible World Cup tradition" with "outstanding players" [7].