Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jul 8

Argentina Overturns 2-0 Deficit to Beat Egypt 3-2 as Messi Sparks Late World Cup Escape

Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jul 8

Argentina Overturns 2-0 Deficit to Beat Egypt 3-2 as Messi Sparks Late World Cup Escape

Q: Down 2-0, Argentina won 3-2. Was this a legendary comeback or an epic Egyptian collapse?

It was both, but the stronger reading is a legendary Argentina comeback. The scale of the turnaround makes that hard to dispute. Argentina were 2-0 down, Messi had already missed a penalty and hit the post, and they were still trailing deep into the final stages before scoring three times in a rush through Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez. The additional reporting describes it as coming with only 11 minutes left and calls it “one of the all-time greatest World Cup comebacks.” Given the stakes — a World Cup knockout match, with the defending champions facing elimination — that label is justified. At the same time, Egypt did collapse. They had the match under control for long stretches, led 2-0 through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, and had already frustrated Messi from the spot. For a team chasing its biggest modern World Cup breakthrough, failing to protect that lead will be remembered as a painful missed opportunity. The fact that Egypt had also shown strong tournament form makes the finish even more damaging. But context matters. Argentina are one of the world’s elite sides, ranked among the tournament favorites, and they produced the kind of late quality that only top teams consistently find. Egypt did not simply hand the game away; Argentina forced the reversal with pressure, belief and elite finishing. So the fairest verdict is this: Egypt suffered an epic collapse, but the defining story is Argentina authoring a legendary comeback.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 8

Egypt were 2-0 ahead with 11 minutes left in Atlanta before Argentina struck three times late, with Lionel Messi driving the comeback and Enzo Fernández heading the winner in stoppage time.
Yasser Ibrahim put Egypt in front after 15 minutes, and Mostafa Zico eventually made it 2-0 after an earlier Egyptian goal was ruled out by VAR for a foul in the buildup.
Messi first set up Cristian Romero to cut the deficit in the 79th minute, then leveled four minutes later with a half-volley off the crossbar after being shifted into wider spaces.
Egypt's anger centered on two decisions — the disallowed counterattacking goal and a waved-away Salah penalty appeal just before Argentina broke for the winner.
The defeat ended Egypt's first World Cup round-of-16 run, though their display against the reigning champions underlined how close they came to a historic upset.