Argentina produced a stunning comeback to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup round of 16, advancing to the quarterfinals after trailing 2-0. Lionel Messi scored twice, including the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, while Julián Álvarez and Cristian Romero also contributed to the victory. Egypt took an early lead through Mostafa Zico, but Argentina's resilience and Messi's leadership turned the tide in a match described as 'one of the great World Cup games.'
The match was marked by controversy, including a VAR decision that overturned Egypt's second goal for a foul on Lisandro Martínez. Despite the setback, Egypt's Mohamed Salah delivered a standout performance, scoring one goal and assisting another. Argentina's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash against either Switzerland or Colombia.
Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni made three changes to the starting lineup, including replacing Lautaro Martínez with Julián Álvarez. Egypt, making their first-ever World Cup knockout appearance, had previously defeated Australia on penalties. The match highlighted the competitive nature of the tournament, with Argentina's players emphasizing the difficulty of every remaining fixture.