Argentina’s dramatic comeback against Egypt sparked emotional scenes on and off the pitch, with tears Lionel Messihappy teammates and euphoric fans in Buenos Aires celebrating one of the biggest escapes of 2026 FIFA World Cup.After overturning a two-goal deficit in the final 13 minutes to beat Egypt 3-2 in their Round of 16 clash on Tuesday, the reigning world champions erupted in celebration. From Messi crying to teammates lifting the captain into the air, and wild dressing room scenes filled with dancing, singing and raining water, the victory was as much a relief as the football.
Messi’s tears, dressing-room party captured the emotions of Argentina
Argentina’s journey during the match was an emotional rollercoaster. Down 2-0 in the 67th minute, elimination seemed inevitable. What followed was a stunning revival as Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez all found the net within 13 minutes to script a remarkable comeback.The final whistle unleashed months worth of emotions. Messi was seen shedding tears of joy as teammates hugged him before hoisting the captain high on their shoulders. Many players also broke down on the pitch after enduring one of the toughest tests of their title defence.The celebrations continued long after the game inside the dressing room. The players danced, sang at the top of their voices, waved shirts in the air and splashed water on each other in scenes that showed the magnitude of the escape. Messi, wearing a relieved smile, watched his teammates soak up the unforgettable moment.The Argentine Football Association also shared a video of the celebrations, thanking the players for their fighting spirit and determination to never give up while praising the team for defending the national colors with everything they have.
The incredible comeback keeps the World Cup dream alive
Egypt stunned Argentina early when Yasser Ibrahim headed in from Marwan Attia’s corner in the 15th minute. Messi then missed from the penalty spot as goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir made a series of outstanding saves, which were also denied by Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez before the captain hit the crossbar with a free-kick.The Pharaohs looked to have sealed the contest when Mostafa Ziko finished off a swift strike in the 67th minute to make it 2-0 after excellent work by Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan.But Argentina refused to surrender. Romero headed home Messi’s free-kick in the 79th minute before the captain equalized with a powerful strike four minutes later. Deep into stoppage time, Fernandez calmly slotted into the bottom corner to complete an incredible 3-2 turnaround.The dramatic victory set up a quarter-final showdown with Switzerland on July 12, as celebrations spread beyond the stadium, with incredible scenes unfolding across Buenos Aires as supporters poured into the streets to celebrate another unforgettable night at the World Cup.