Messi in Tears as Argentina Survives Egypt Thriller to Reach World Cup Quarterfinals

Lionel Messi broke down in tears on the field in Atlanta after Argentina survived one of the wildest 20 minutes of this World Cup, scoring three times in the final 13 minutes to stun Egypt 3-2 and punch a ticket to the quarterfinals. The defending champions trailed 2-0 with the clock working against them before an improbable comeback turned Mercedes-Benz Stadium into pandemonium.

Messi, 39, is playing in what he has indicated could be his final World Cup, and the emotional scenes at the final whistle reflected just how much was riding on the result. Argentina now moves on to face Switzerland on Saturday in Kansas City, with the reigning champions’ title defense hanging by a thread yet somehow still alive.

A Three-Goal Blitz to Close It Out

Egypt built a 2-0 lead and appeared to have Argentina on the ropes deep into the second half. Then, in the 79th minute, Cristian Romero headed home a goal set up by Messi to cut the deficit in half. Four minutes later, Messi struck the equalizer himself, his eighth goal of the tournament and the 21st of his World Cup career, extending the all-time scoring record he already held outright. Enzo Fernandez capped the comeback in the 92nd minute, meeting a cross from Lautaro Martinez with a header that sent the Argentine bench into a frenzy and sealed the 3-2 win.

The victory came with a complication for Messi personally. He missed a penalty earlier in the match, making him the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties across the tournament and pushing his career penalty conversion rate at the World Cup down to just half. It was that miss, as much as the eventual win, that triggered his emotional reaction once the final whistle blew.

Messi and Teammates React

Speaking after the match, Messi was candid about his frustration. “I was really frustrated with everything that transpired in the match today, particularly after failing to convert that penalty. If I had scored, it would have altered the game’s dynamics. Despite the goal we conceded, we were actually performing well,” he said.

He also credited the belief inside the squad once Romero’s header found the net. “This group deserved to continue, to keep fighting and pushing forward. When we got that goal from Cuti, I think everyone felt it deep down and believed that we could achieve it. We were fortunate to equalize and secure the win within 90 minutes, avoiding extra time.”

Teammate Julian Alvarez, who watched the finish from the bench, spoke about the moment Argentina’s captain delivered again under pressure. “Leo keeps showing what a great legend he is, and we’re happy to be able to be with him,” Alvarez said. “I’m not usually someone who gets emotional, but today I felt it deeply.”

Next Up: Switzerland in Kansas City

Argentina’s reward for surviving Egypt is a quarterfinal date with Switzerland, set for Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with kickoff at 9 p.m. ET. Switzerland reached this stage for the first time since 1954 by outlasting Colombia 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a scoreless 120 minutes, with Davinson Sanchez blazing his attempt over the bar and Cucho Hernandez seeing his effort saved by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel before Ruben Vargas converted the clinching penalty.

On paper, Argentina remains the heavy favorite. The defending champions sit third in the latest FIFA rankings compared to Switzerland at 15th, and Messi’s status as the tournament’s most dangerous attacker is unchanged. Bettors using a DraftKings promo code or a FanDuel promo code can expect Argentina to open as a clear moneyline favorite once markets settle, though the odds may tighten given how much Argentina has struggled defensively of late. But Argentina has needed dramatic, late-game heroics to escape each of its last two knockout matches, first against Cape Verde in extra time and now against Egypt in stoppage time, and the warning signs of a shaky defense have been evident throughout the run.

The comeback also rippled through prediction markets, where traders had been pricing in an early Argentina exit before the late goals flipped contracts in the defending champions’ favor. Anyone tracking the tournament through a Kalshi promo code or on Polymarket saw Argentina’s title-defense odds swing sharply in the final 15 minutes against Egypt, a reminder of how volatile these markets can get once a knockout match reaches its final stretch.

For Switzerland, simply reaching a World Cup quarterfinal for the first time in more than seven decades already qualifies as a landmark achievement, and the team will head into Kansas City with nothing to lose against the sport’s biggest name. For Argentina, the equation is simpler and more urgent: find a way to tighten up defensively, because at this stage of the tournament, there may not be a third comeback left in them.