Lionel Messi netted his eighth goal of the tournament, playing a pivotal role in one of the most memorable comebacks in World Cup history. Argentina triumphed over Egypt with a final score of 3-2, despite trailing by two goals inside the first 11 minutes of regulation time. In the other round of 16 match, Switzerland advanced past Colombia after a tense scoreless draw, winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
Despite the seeming mismatch on paper, with Argentina as three-time winners and reigning champions, Egypt shocked the football world by taking an early lead. Yasser Ibrahim headed in a cross from Marwan Attia, marking the first time Argentina had fallen behind in a World Cup match since their opener against Saudi Arabia four years ago.
Messi, a key figure in the team, had the chance to level the score from the penalty spot in the first half, but unfortunately missed, adding to his record of four missed penalties out of eight taken in World Cup matches. The Pharaohs were on the verge of a historic upset when Mostafa Zico scored in the 67th minute, extending Egypt’s lead to 2-0. This put Argentina in a precarious position, as they had lost all 13 previous World Cup matches when down by two goals.
However, the tide turned when Cristian Romero scored in the 79th minute. Shortly thereafter, Messi capitalized on a loose ball to equalize, bringing his career World Cup goal tally to 21. Enzo Fernandes sealed Argentina’s comeback with a header in stoppage time, marking one of the rare instances in World Cup history where a team overcame a two-goal deficit without requiring extra time. The emotional weight of the moment was palpable, with Messi visibly moved at the final whistle.
As the tournament progresses, Africa’s representation is dwindling. With five minutes left in their match, Egypt’s elimination meant that South Africa, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ivory Coast have all exited the competition. Tensions were high as Egyptian players felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Mohamed Salah went down in the build-up to Fernandes’ game-winning goal, prompting a furious reaction from Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan.
In a quieter matchup, Switzerland and Colombia ended in an uneventful scoreless draw, resulting in the lowest expected goals total of any match thus far in the tournament, pegged at just 0.70. Switzerland will now face Argentina in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups Take Shape
The quarterfinal lineup is set, with France preparing for a rematch against Morocco in a highly anticipated clash. Spain will face Belgium, which recently eliminated the United States, while England prepares to take on Norway. Argentina’s late comeback against Egypt adds an exciting layer to the upcoming matches as teams vie for supremacy in the knockout stages.
As the excitement of the quarterfinals approaches, it’s evident that Messi’s performance continues to elevate him in the Golden Boot race, currently leading with nine goals. With fierce competition from Kylian Mbappé, who trails by just one goal, fans are eager to see how the dynamics play out in the next round. Morocco, as the last African representative, aims to make history by defeating the reigning 2018 champions.
