FIFA World Cup — Argentina combines another escape, beating Egypt 3-2 to reach the last eight

For most of the sweltering afternoon in Atlanta, Argentina looked like a chain-bound champion as their defense of the World Cup title sank under Egyptian discipline, courage and counter-attacks. Lionel Messi had missed from the spot, the holders were two goals behind and seemed to be running out of tricks. And then, like a Houdini act, Christian Romero, Messi and finally Enzo Fernández praised Argentina from a box, where the country had no right to escape and enter the quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium was blue and white long before kick-off. At 10am, two hours before early afternoon, supporters were already storming the climate-controlled dome, turning it into a shrine to Messi. However, Egypt were not deterred by the noise or the opportunity and Hossam Hassan’s side won the early midfield matches to disrupt Argentina’s rhythm.

The reward came in the 15th minute when Yasser Ibrahim crossed for Lisandro Martínez and fired a header into the top right corner, out of the reach of a rooted Emiliano Martínez. Argentina had the chance to respond after just eight minutes when Nicolás Tagliafico was brought down by Haissem Hassan in the penalty area. The stadium rose to its feet, awaiting the familiar script. Instead, Mostafa Shobeir dived low to the left and pushed Messi’s penalty away.

There was a gasp of disbelief, but not the sound of a crowd turning on its idol. The blue and white benches responded with a fresh chant, as if to sing out Messi’s pain. After the hydration break, Shobeir reacted sharply again to keep out Alexis MacAllister’s header and then reached out strong to turn Julián Álvarez’s skidding shot around the post.

In the 58th minute, Hassan slid in from the right to connect with Mohamed Salah and release Mostafa Ziko to finish past Emiliano Martínez, before VAR intervened. But the warning went unheeded. Moments later, from an Argentine corner, Salah collected possession in his own half and stormed clear, carrying the ball past Romero before allowing Hassan to slot free. The Egyptian drifted in and found the onrushing Ziko, who hammered his finish past Emiliano to put Egypt further ahead.

With ten minutes to go, Romero turned his header through Shobeir’s grasp to reduce the deficit. Messi then slotted past two defenders from the right and almost equalized, only for a desperate move to spare Egypt. However, the delay lasted barely a minute. In the 83rd, Goncalo Montiel cushioned Lautaro Martínez’s cross into Messi’s path and the captain powered his finish past Shobeir.

Egypt had one last attack left, but when Salah was dispossessed near the Argentine penalty area, the ball was quickly worked forward, and a smooth throw from Lautaro saw Enzo avoid the red shirt and head home the winner.

For Egypt it was a defeat that would hurt even more because it was so well deserved. Argentina, sloppy and vulnerable for extended periods, had stitched together another escape.

Published on July 8, 2026