Messi Inspires Argentina to Stun Egypt 3-2 in Dramatic World Cup Comeback
The Round of 16 concluded with thrilling finishes, setting the stage for the Quarterfinals after a brief tournament pause.
The story
Argentina delivered a stunning comeback against Egypt in a dramatic Round of 16 clash at Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday, securing a 3-2 victory to keep their World Cup dreams alive. The reigning champions found themselves trailing 2-0 with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation, a situation compounded by an earlier disallowed VAR goal for Egypt.
Cristian Romero sparked the turnaround, halving the deficit in the 79th minute. Just four minutes later, captain Lionel Messi, with his eighth goal of the tournament, equalized to send the Argentine faithful into a frenzy. The incredible comeback was completed in the third minute of stoppage time (90+3') when Enzo Fernandez headed home a cross from Lautaro Martinez, sealing a memorable win and breaking Egyptian hearts.
Yesterday's results
Argentina vs Egypt
Score: 3-2
Key: Cristian Romero (79'), Lionel Messi (83'), and Enzo Fernandez (90+3') completed a stunning comeback after Egypt led 2-0; VAR controversy also marked the match at Atlanta Stadium.
Switzerland vs Colombia
Score: 0-0 (4-3 PSO)
Key: Switzerland advanced to the quarterfinals after a goalless draw, with Ruben Vargas scoring the decisive penalty in a 4-3 shootout win in Vancouver.
Where it stands
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 officially concluded on Tuesday, July 7, with Argentina and Switzerland securing the final two spots in the Quarterfinals. This means the eight teams advancing are France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina, and Switzerland.
Teams eliminated in the Round of 16 include Colombia, Egypt, the U.S., Portugal, Canada, Paraguay, Mexico, and Brazil. The tournament now enters a brief pause, with no matches scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, before the Quarterfinal action kicks off.
Off the pitch
| Player | From | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandro Tonali | Newcastle United | Tottenham Hotspur | £92.5m |
| Elliot Anderson | Nottingham Forest | Manchester City | £116m |
| Marco Palestra | Atalanta | Chelsea | £43m |
What we'll be watching
- Thursday, July 9: France vs Morocco (Quarterfinal) - Boston Stadium (4 p.m. ET)
- Friday, July 10: Spain vs Belgium (Quarterfinal) - Los Angeles Stadium (3 p.m. ET)
- Saturday, July 11: Norway vs England (Quarterfinal) - Miami Stadium (5 p.m. ET)
- Saturday, July 11: Argentina vs Switzerland (Quarterfinal) - Kansas City Stadium (9 p.m. ET)
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