Argentina complete stunning comeback to beat Egypt 3–2
Down 2–0 with 20 minutes to play, Argentina scored three times in the final quarter of an hour — Enzo Fernández’s 90+2’ header completing the turnaround — to reach the quarterfinals.
Egypt were twenty minutes away from one of the great World Cup shocks. Yasser Ibrahim’s early header and a second-half strike from Mostafa Zico had the reigning champions staring at elimination, until three goals in the final quarter of an hour turned Atlanta on its head.
Egypt struck first in the 15th minute, Ibrahim rising to meet a Marawan Attia cross. Argentina responded with pressure but not goals — goalkeeper Shobeir saved a 21st-minute Messi penalty and also denied Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez before halftime. Mostafa Zico doubled Egypt’s lead in the 67th minute, with Mohamed Salah heavily involved in Egypt’s best moments throughout.
Then came the collapse Argentina had been threatening all afternoon. Cristian Romero headed in a corner in the 79th minute, and four minutes later Messi drove a first-time finish off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2–2 — his eighth goal of the tournament, the most of any player at this World Cup. Enzo Fernández settled it in the second minute of stoppage time, a goal that also marked the 3,000th in World Cup history.
Argentina advance to face Switzerland in the quarterfinals on July 11 in Kansas City. Egypt’s run ends in the Round of 16.