Lionel Messi Opens Up After Argentina's Dramatic World Cup Comeback Against Egypt

Following Argentina's stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, captain Lionel Messi shared his emotional reflections on the match. Despite missing a penalty early on, which he said frustrated and angered him, Messi scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute and played a pivotal role in overturning a 2-0 deficit. He expressed deep relief and pride in the team's resilience, saying, "I was very angry at myself for the penalty miss, but this team never gives up."

Messi struggled to hold back tears after the match, emphasizing the difficulty of the comeback and the tight nature of World Cup games. Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, also showed emotion, calling it one of the greatest moments they have experienced and praising Messi for continuing to perform at the highest level for moments like these. Teammates like Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez lauded Messi as an inspiration and encouraged him to enjoy what is likely his final World Cup.

In addition to his emotional impact, Messi extended several World Cup records: he now has eight goals in the tournament, leads the top scorer chart, became the first player to score in six consecutive knockout matches, and has scored in nine consecutive World Cup games. Argentina will next face Switzerland in the quarterfinals, aiming to defend their title and move closer to another World Cup triumph.