---
title: "Messi and Argentina Storm Back From Two Down to Beat Egypt at the World Cup"
description: "Argentina, the defending champions, came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 in the World Cup's round of 16, with Lionel Messi scoring and setting up a goal before Enzo Fernandez struck in stoppage time. Egypt's dream run ended in heartbreak in Atlanta."
category: "Sports"
category_url: https://newsparlor.com/category/sports
author: "James Whitmore"
published: 2026-07-07T19:22:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-07T19:22:00.000Z
canonical: https://newsparlor.com/article/messi-and-argentina-storm-back-from-two-down-to-beat-egypt-at-the-world-cup
tags: ["world-cup-2026", "argentina", "egypt", "messi", "football"]
---
# Messi and Argentina Storm Back From Two Down to Beat Egypt at the World Cup

Argentina, the defending champions, came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 in the World Cup's round of 16, with Lionel Messi scoring and setting up a goal before Enzo Fernandez struck in stoppage time. Egypt's dream run ended in heartbreak in Atlanta.

Argentina looked to be heading out of the World Cup, two goals down to Egypt with about a quarter of an hour to play. Instead the holders produced a late surge to win 3-2 in Atlanta, a comeback led by Lionel Messi that kept their bid for back-to-back titles alive and broke Egyptian hearts in the round of 16.

## From the brink

Egypt, enjoying a landmark run at the tournament, had stunned Argentina by building a two-goal lead. Then the game turned. Messi laid on a goal for Cristian Romero to halve the deficit, and soon after scored himself to level it, [ESPN reported](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49298199/argentina-lionel-messi-world-cup-round-16-egypt-var-mohamed-salah). With the match seemingly bound for extra time, Enzo Fernandez headed home in second-half stoppage time to complete the turnaround, [NBC Sports reported](https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/live/argentina-vs-egypt-live-updates-score-goals-highlights-stats-2026-fifa-world-cup-july-7). Argentina had scored three times in the closing stages after barely threatening for much of the night.

## Messi to the fore

It was another chapter in Messi's long World Cup story. His goal was, by TSN's count, his 21st at World Cups, extending his own record, [TSN reported](https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/fifa-world-cup/article/messi-stopped-on-another-penalty-in-as-argentina-trails-egypt/). The night was not flawless for him: he had a penalty saved earlier, a reminder that even in a match he decided, the margins were fine. But when Argentina most needed a spark, he supplied it, first as creator, then as scorer.

## A cruel end for Egypt

For Egypt, and for Mohamed Salah, who had carried much of their attacking threat through the tournament, the defeat was a bitter way to bow out after leading for so long. A disallowed goal, ruled out after a video review for a foul in the build-up, was among the fine margins that went against them as Argentina rallied. Their run, one of the stories of this World Cup, ended a step short of the quarterfinals.

## What is next

Argentina move on to the last eight, where they will meet the winner of Switzerland against Colombia. The manner of the win, ragged for long spells and then ruthless at the death, will not trouble a team that made a habit of finding a way in its 2022 triumph. Once again, with Messi at its heart, Argentina survived, and once again it is still standing.

## Sources

- [Messi saves Argentina in historic World Cup rally past Egypt](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49298199/argentina-lionel-messi-world-cup-round-16-egypt-var-mohamed-salah)
- [Argentina stages epic comeback, beats Egypt 3-2 to reach World Cup quarters](https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/live/argentina-vs-egypt-live-updates-score-goals-highlights-stats-2026-fifa-world-cup-july-7)
- [Messi scores his 21st World Cup goal against Egypt](https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/fifa-world-cup/article/messi-stopped-on-another-penalty-in-as-argentina-trails-egypt/)