Enzo Fernandez scored the winning goal as Argentina crawled from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 and booked their place at the ongoing 2026 World Cup quarterfinals.
The Round of 16 clash at Atlanta Stadium saw the defending champions pushed to the brink by an inspired Egyptian side before a late-game surge turned the tide.
It was almost looking like a historical upset at the World Cup before Romero started the comeback which led to the last goal that completed the victory.
The atmosphere in Atlanta was a promising one from the start, but the mood shifted early for the Argentine supporters as they saw something different on the pitch.
Egypt, playing with discipline and intent, stunned the champions in the 15th minute. Following a corner from Marwan Attia, defender Yasser Ibrahim rose highest to power a header past Emiliano Martínez, handing the Pharaohs a shock lead.
Argentina’s frustration grew moments later. After winning a penalty, captain Lionel Messi stepped up to the spot, but his effort was expertly saved by Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
For much of the first half, the champions struggled to find their rhythm, and Egypt entered the halftime break with a well-deserved 1-0 advantage.
As the second half began, Egypt continued to frustrate the Argentine attack. Their defensive structure remained solid, and they effectively limited opportunities for the likes of Julian Alvarez and Messi.
The tension reached new heights in the 67th minute when Mostafa Ziko doubled Egypt’s lead, sending the Egyptian bench into a frenzy and leaving Argentina’s title defense hanging by a thread.
With the clock ticking down, the defending champions finally ignited. The comeback began in the 79th minute when Lionel Messi delivered a precise ball into the box, allowing Cristian Romero to head home and narrow the gap.
The goal changed the momentum entirely as the World Champions became very confident. Less than five minutes later, Messi who had been denied from the spot earlier, stepped up again, this time lashing a finish into the back of the net to make it 2-2.
The stadium erupted as the momentum swung firmly in favor of Argentina with little time left to be played between both teams.
As the match entered stoppage time, Egypt looked exhausted, having defended valiantly for most of the second half.
In the 92nd minute, Argentina found the breakthrough they craved. Following another cross into the box, Enzo Fernandez planted a header into the top corner, completing a breathtaking turnaround.
Egypt protested a potential foul in the buildup, but the goal stood after a final check. The final whistle signaled a narrow 3-2 victory for Argentina, ending a courageous run for Egypt while the reigning champions survived one of the most intense tests of their campaign.
Argentina now moves forward to the quarterfinals, where they will look to continue their quest to retain the World Cup trophy they won in Qatar.
For Egypt, it was a valiant effort that earned the respect of the footballing world, falling just short of what would have been an iconic upset.
Lionel Messi is still on course to claim another World Cup title over rival Cristiano Ronaldo who’s Portugal team crashed out yesterday against Spain.
