CORNERFLICK
Argentina came from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 at Atlanta Stadium and book a place in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals.
Yasser Ibrahim put Egypt ahead in the first half, then Mostafa Shobeir saved a Messi penalty as Argentina struggled to get going. Egypt thought they had doubled their lead through Mostafa Ziko on 58 minutes, but the goal was ruled out after a foul in the build-up.
Ziko did make it 2-0 on 67 minutes, before Argentina finally turned the match around. Cristian Romero headed one back on 79 minutes, Messi levelled four minutes later, and Enzo Fernández completed the comeback in stoppage time with a header from a Lautaro Martínez cross.
Messi’s strike was his eighth of the tournament and moved him above Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé in the scoring chart. French referee François Letexier booked Shobeir, Hamdy Fathy and Marwan Attia, while one member of Egypt’s staff was sent off.
Argentina, who had knocked out Cape Verde in the previous round, will face the winner of Switzerland v Colombia next.