Lionel Messi admitted he felt he had “let the team down” after missing a first-half penalty against Egypt before playing a decisive role in Argentina’s remarkable comeback to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. The defending champions looked on the brink of elimination after trailing 2-0 in the 67th minute of their Round of 16 match. However, goals from Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez within 13 minutes completed a stunning turnaround and secured a dramatic 3-2 win. Messi’s missed penalty earlier in the contest threatened to prove costly. The Argentine captain was denied from the spot by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, marking the fourth non-shootout penalty miss of his FIFA World Cup career, the most of any player in the history of the tournament. Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster after the match, Messi admitted he was very disappointed by the absence and feared he had let his team-mates down. “Yes, it’s true that it’s a relief, a relief for everyone. As I said, I was very angry about the missed penalty, about how I kicked it. I felt that in an important moment I failed the group, and well, luckily, God once again had something special prepared for me at the end. like the Argentines, the pride it gave us and nothing, very happy.“ Messi also praised Argentina’s fighting spirit, saying the squad’s refusal to give up had once again put them in a difficult situation. “I’ve said it many times, and I repeat it often. This is a team that competes, that always gives their all, that doesn’t give up, that doesn’t give up.” Argentina endured a disappointing opening time after Egypt stunned the favorites with a Yasser Ibrahim header in the 15th minute. Messi then saw his penalty saved by Shobeir, who went on to make more spectacular stops to deny Alexis MacAllister and Julian Alvarez. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also hit the crossbar with a free-kick as Argentina trailed 1-0 at the break. Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage early in the second half through Mostafa Ziko, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review. The Pharaohs finally made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Ziko finished off a quick strike after good work from Mohamed Salah and Hassem Hassan. Argentina responded in a remarkable way. Romero headed home Messi’s free-kick in the 79th minute to spark a comeback before the captain equalized four minutes later with a fierce strike from outside the area that went into the goalkeeper’s glove and under the crossbar. With added time just moments away, Fernandez completed the comeback in stoppage time, firing a low finish into the bottom corner to send Argentina through to the quarter-finals, where they will face Switzerland on July 12.