Argentina Down 2-0 to Egypt, Comes Back to Win 3-2 as Controversial VAR Call Sparks Rigged Chants

Argentina needed a miracle, and Lionel Messi delivered one. The defending World Cup champions trailed Egypt 2-0 in the Round of 16 on Tuesday at Atlanta Stadium before storming back with three goals in 13 second-half minutes, capping the comeback with an Enzo Fernandez header in the second minute of stoppage time to win 3-2. The victory sends Argentina into the quarterfinals, but a contentious VAR decision that wiped out what would have been Egypt’s second goal has left much of the soccer world convinced the officiating, not just Messi, decided the game.

Egypt, appearing in just their second-ever World Cup knockout match, looked ready to pull off one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring in the first half, and Mostafa Ziko doubled the lead early in the second, sending Mohamed Salah and the Pharaohs to the brink of a stunning result over the three-time champions. Argentina had entered as heavy favorites — some sportsbooks had them as short as -800 to advance — and for long stretches on Tuesday, that price looked badly out of touch with what was happening on the field.

The VAR Call That Changed Everything

Ziko actually found the net a second time in the second half on a fast breakaway, a goal that would have put Egypt up 3-0 and all but ended Argentina’s title defense. Instead, referee Francois Letexier was sent to the monitor, and the goal was overturned for a foul that officials determined occurred more than 20 seconds earlier in the buildup, at the opposite end of the pitch. The ruling ignited immediate backlash on social media, with fans and journalists alike questioning both the letter and the spirit of the call.

Sky Sports reporter Rob Harris called the review a misuse of the technology, writing that VAR “was never meant for” winding the play back that far to flag a soft challenge unconnected to the phase of play that produced the goal. BBC reporter Dale Johnson echoed the sentiment, noting the disallowed goal ran counter to how loosely the tournament had otherwise been officiated. With the goal wiped off the board and Argentina still alive at 0-2, Messi took over.

Messi Sparks the Comeback, Fernandez Finishes It

Messi set up Cristian Romero for Argentina’s first goal before scoring the equalizer himself, pulling his side level after trailing for most of the match. Ziko did manage to restore Egypt’s lead minutes later, making it 2-1, but Argentina refused to fold. Lautaro Martinez and Messi combined again in the closing minutes, with Martinez delivering the cross that Fernandez powered home for the eventual winner in the 93rd minute, sealing a 3-2 final and one of the most dramatic comebacks of this World Cup.

It’s the second time this tournament that Argentina has been at the center of a major officiating storm. Messi avoided a card earlier in the group stage for a challenge on Algeria’s Aissa Mandi that many pundits argued warranted a red, fueling ongoing chatter about whether the sport’s biggest star is getting preferential treatment from referees on the game’s biggest stage. Combined with Tuesday’s disallowed Egypt goal, the pattern has been enough for some fans to label the tournament “rigged” outright, even as Argentina’s players and staff have stayed silent on the criticism.

What’s Next for Argentina

The result keeps Argentina’s title defense alive and sets up a quarterfinal matchup as the reigning champions look to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962. Bettors who backed Argentina’s moneyline before kickoff cashed a nervy ticket, but the futures market reaction was immediate, with Argentina’s odds to lift the trophy again shortening after Tuesday’s win. Sportsbooks are already adjusting lines for the next round, and with Messi playing some of the best soccer of his career at 39 years old, plenty of bettors browsing DraftKings promo code offers or a FanDuel promo code will be looking to load up on Argentina futures before the price moves again.

For Egypt, the exit is bitterly disappointing given how close they came to a historic upset, and the disallowed goal will likely remain a talking point for years. Salah, still without a World Cup knockout win to his name, will have to wait at least another four years for another shot. Argentina, meanwhile, moves on with a target squarely on its back — and a growing list of critics who believe this run is being aided by more than just Messi’s brilliance.

Bettors tracking the rest of the bracket can also compare markets through a BetMGM promo code or check current futures pricing on a Caesars Sportsbook review before the quarterfinal draw firms up. However the controversy shakes out, Tuesday’s result confirmed that Argentina, warts and all, remains the team to beat in this tournament.