“Egypt took a shock lead when Yasser Ibrahim met a corner with a thumping header from the centre of the box, capitalising on a defensive lapse after Rodrigo De Paul's foul had gifted Egypt a free kick in the attacking half moments earlier.”
Pivotal“Mostafa Mohamed Zaki Abdelraouf doubled Egypt's lead just 60 seconds after Argentina's double substitution, catching the hosts completely disorganised as Lautaro Martínez and Nico González were still finding their footing on the pitch.”
Pivotal“Cristian Romero gave Argentina a lifeline, powering a header into the net from the centre of the box after Messi's shot had been blocked moments earlier during a period of sustained Argentine pressure from corners.”
Pivotal“Messi equalised at 2-2 after a relentless Argentine spell of pressure from corners, with Lautaro Martínez having agonisingly missed a header just moments before from a Messi assist, before the captain himself found the net.”
Pivotal“Enzo Fernández broke Egyptian hearts in the opening minute of seven added by heading home from a fast break after Karim Hafez had fouled Lautaro Martínez on the right wing, completing a barely believable three-goal comeback.”
Pivotal
Argentina
Egypt
Outstanding performance
Argentina•AttackerArgentina were badly stung in this World Cup group stage clash, finding themselves two goals down as Egypt executed a disciplined counter-attacking game plan to perfection. Yasser Ibrahim's header from a corner in the 15th minute set the tone, and despite Argentina's suffocating 65% possession and 19 attempts, they were repeatedly blunted — missing four big chances — before Mostafa Mohamed Zaki Abdelraouf punished them again in the 67th minute, capitalising on a defensive breakdown just seconds after Scaloni had brought on Lautaro Martínez and Nico González in a desperate tactical reshuffle. That substitution gamble ultimately proved inspired, as Argentina finally found some end product through set-pieces: Cristian Romero powered in a header in the 79th minute to spark the comeback, and Messi buried the equaliser four minutes later after another corner routine. When Enzo Fernández headed home from a fast break in the first minute of added time, Argentina had completed one of the most nerve-shredding recoveries of this World Cup, leaving Egypt — who had been outstanding for over 70 minutes and kept four saves to their keeper's name — utterly devastated on the final whistle.
How entertaining was this match?
Marwan AteyaYellow CardMarwan Attia of Egypt receives a yellow card for a foul.
Marwan Attia from Egypt commits a foul.
Lautaro Martínez wins a free kick for Argentina in the defensive half.
Zizo from Egypt wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Nico González commits a foul for Argentina.
Substitution for Egypt: Zizo comes on for Mohanad Lasheen.
Substitution for Argentina: Facundo Medina comes on for Julián Alvarez.
Substitution for Argentina: Nicolás Otamendi comes on for Cristian Romero.
Hamdy FathyYellow CardHamdi Fathy from Egypt receives a yellow card.
Oufa ShobeirYellow CardMostafa Shobeir from Egypt receives a yellow card.
Trezeguet's header from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Mohamed Hany's cross.
assist: Lautaro Martínez
Goal! Argentina leads 3-2 after Enzo Fernández scores with a header from the center of the box following a fast break.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 7 minutes of added time.
Karim Hafez commits a foul for Egypt.
Lautaro Martínez wins a free kick for Argentina on the right wing.
Omar Marmoush wins a free kick for Egypt in the defensive half.
Goal! Lionel Messi scores for Argentina with a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the high center of the goal. The match is now 2-2, assisted by Gonzalo Montiel.
assist: Gonzalo Montiel
Attempt missed. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) takes a right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box, but it goes wide to the right.
Argentina wins a corner after Mohamed Salah concedes.
Lautaro Martínez of Argentina misses a header from the right side of the six-yard box, sending it just to the right. The assist came from Lionel Messi.
Substitution for Egypt: Omar Marmoush comes on for Mostafa Zico.
assist: Lionel Messi
Goal! Cristian Romero scores for Argentina with a header from the center of the box. The score is now Argentina 1, Egypt 2.
Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi's right-footed shot from the center of the box for Argentina is blocked.
Corner awarded to Argentina after Trezeguet concedes.
Attempt missed by Trezeguet from Egypt, who took a right-footed shot from the left side of the box.
Offside for Argentina. Julián Alvarez is caught offside.
Lautaro Martínez from Argentina misses a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it to the right. The attempt was assisted by Nico González with a cross.
Lautaro Martínez's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Substitution for Egypt: Trezeguet comes on for Haissem Hassan due to an injury.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Substitution for Argentina: Gonzalo Montiel comes on for Nahuel Molina.
Attempt missed. Lisandro Martínez (Argentina) took a left-footed shot from outside the box.
Goal! Egypt leads 2-0 over Argentina. Mostafa Zico scores with a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the center of the goal, assisted by Haissem Hassan after a fast break.
assist: Haissem Hassan
Corner awarded to Argentina after Mostafa Zico concedes.
Corner awarded to Argentina after Mostafa Zico concedes.
Substitution for Argentina: Nico González comes on for Nicolás Tagliafico.
Substitution for Argentina: Lautaro Martínez comes on for Rodrigo De Paul.
Foul committed by Mohamed Salah (Egypt).
Lisandro Martínez wins a free kick for Argentina on the left wing.
Corner awarded to Argentina after Mostafa Zico concedes.
Corner awarded to Argentina after Mostafa Zico concedes.
Attempt blocked. Alexis Mac Allister's header from the left side of the six-yard box is blocked. Lionel Messi provided the assist with a cross.
VAR decision confirms no goal. The score remains Argentina 0, Egypt 1.
Lisandro Martínez wins a free kick for Argentina on the left wing.
VAR is checking the goal by Mostafa Zico for Egypt.
Leandro Paredes' right-footed shot from outside the box for Argentina is blocked. Nahuel Molina provided the assist.
Goal! Egypt leads 2-0 over Argentina. Mostafa Zico scores with a left-footed shot from the center of the box after a quick counterattack.
Hamdi Fathy commits a foul for Egypt.
Lionel Messi wins a free kick for Argentina in the attacking half.
Delay in the match in Argentina.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Attempt missed. Leandro Paredes (Argentina) takes a right-footed shot from outside the box after a set piece.
Foul committed by Mohamed Salah (Egypt).
Leandro Paredes wins a free kick for Argentina in the attacking half.
Mostafa Shobeir from Egypt is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Julián Alvarez commits a foul for Argentina.
Haissem Hassan from Egypt is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Nicolás Tagliafico commits a foul for Argentina.
Attempt saved. Rodrigo De Paul from Argentina has his right-footed shot from outside the box saved.
Mohamed Salah wins a free kick for Egypt in the defensive half.
Lisandro Martínez commits a foul for Argentina.
The second half begins with the score at Argentina 0, Egypt 1.
Substitution for Egypt: Hamdi Fathy comes on for Emam Ashour due to an injury.
First half ends with Egypt leading Argentina 1-0.
Nicolás Tagliafico is caught offside for Argentina.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Ramy Rabia from Egypt.
Ramy Rabia from Egypt wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Julián Alvarez commits a foul for Argentina.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 5 minutes of added time.
Mohamed Salah wins a free kick for Egypt in the attacking half.
Julián Alvarez commits a foul for Argentina.
Lionel Messi wins a free kick for Argentina on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Julián Alvarez (Argentina) takes a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) misses an attempt with a header from the right side of the six-yard box after a corner.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Attempt saved. Julián Alvarez from Argentina has a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it's saved in the center of the goal by Mostafa Shobeir from Egypt. Nicolás Tagliafico provided the assist.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Mostafa Shobeir from Egypt.
Corner awarded to Argentina after Mostafa Shobeir concedes.
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) takes a left-footed shot from outside the box.
Attempt missed. Karim Hafez takes a right-footed shot from outside the box for Egypt.
Foul committed by Mohanad Lasheen of Egypt.
Julián Alvarez from Argentina is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
VAR is checking for another reason.
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi's left-footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Foul committed by Marwan Attia of Egypt.
Alexis Mac Allister wins a free kick for Argentina in the attacking half.
Enzo Fernández's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Alexis Mac Allister's right-footed shot from the center of the box is saved.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is currently delayed for a drinks break.
Mohamed Salah wins a free kick for Egypt in the defensive half.
Lisandro Martínez commits a foul for Argentina.
Penalty saved! Mostafa Shobeir from Egypt saves a left-footed shot from Lionel Messi of Argentina, which was aimed at the bottom right corner.
Emam Ashour from Egypt is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Cristian Romero commits a foul for Argentina.
Penalty conceded by Haissem Hassan of Egypt for a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty awarded to Argentina as Nicolás Tagliafico is fouled in the penalty area.
Foul committed by Yasser Ibrahim of Egypt.
Julián Alvarez wins a free kick for Argentina in the defensive half.
assist: Marwan Ateya
Goal! Egypt takes the lead 1-0 with a header from Yasser Ibrahim in the center of the box following a corner.
Corner awarded to Egypt after Lisandro Martínez concedes.
Emam Ashour from Egypt is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Rodrigo De Paul commits a foul for Argentina.
Karim Hafez from Egypt is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Enzo Fernández commits a foul for Argentina.
Rodrigo De Paul is caught offside for Argentina.
Haissem Hassan from Egypt is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Nicolás Tagliafico commits a foul for Argentina.
Mohamed Salah wins a free kick for Egypt in the defensive half.
Enzo Fernández commits a foul for Argentina.
Kick-off! The referee is Francois Letexier.
The defending World Cup champions Argentina take on a history-making Egypt side in the Round of 16, with Lionel Messi chasing all-time scoring records and the Pharaohs defying expectations in their first-ever knockout stage appearance. It's a clash between South American royalty and African resilience, with everything to play for at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
