LAST UPDATE | 7 Jul

The 42

Argentina 3

Egypt 2

ENZO FERNANDEZ HEADED a stoppage-time winner as Argentina produced one of the great World Cup comebacks to beat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta and reach the quarter-finals.

The Chelsea midfielder snatched a thrilling win for the reigning champions in the second minute of added time after his side had trailed 2-0 in the 79th minute and looked to be crashing out.

🇦🇷 3-2 🇪🇬

Absolute Cinema!!

The reigning champions, with only 10 minutes to go come back from 2-0 down with an Enzo Fernandez header putting them ahead.

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— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026

Yasser Ibrahim gave Egypt a shock half-time lead before Lionel Messi’s penalty was saved and Mostafa Zico put the Pharaohs 2-0 up in the second period after his earlier effort had been ruled out by VAR.

But Cristian Romero’s header threw Argentina a lifeline and after Lionel Messi smashed home an 83rd-minute equaliser, Fernandez completed a remarkable fightback.

🇦🇷 2-2 🇪🇬

The reining champions won't go down that easy. In a matter of minutes, they get a second goal to equalise, and from who else but Lionel Messi.

Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/GMQOOZL3GU

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026

Argentina, who had been given a huge scare by Cape Verde in the previous round, somehow stayed on course for the ‘bicampeonato’, a successful defence of the World Cup they won in 2022 in Qatar.

Egypt faced a big step up in quality after group draws against Belgium and Iran sandwiched a win over New Zealand before they edged Australia in a last-32 penalty shoot-out.

But after a scrappy opening, they stole into the lead with the first effort on target in the match as Ibrahim got in front of Lisandro Martinez to head home Marwan Attia’s excellent cross in the 15th minute.

🇦🇷 0-1 🇪🇬

The champs have been knocked down early.

Egypt take the lead through a towering header from Yasser Ibrahim.

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— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026

Egypt’s shock lead looked set to be short-lived when Nicolas Tagliafico went tumbling under Haissem Hassan’s clumsy challenge soon after.

But Messi’s unconvincing spot-kick was comfortably saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who dived low to his left to palm the ball away.

🇦🇷 0-1 🇪🇬

A chance for an instant reply from Argentina but Messi has his penalty saved by Mostafa Shobeir

Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/3bQ5bdDjXJ

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026

Argentina pressed for an equaliser before the break, but either side of Messi’s 30-yard free-kick, which clipped a post, Shobeir kept out Alexis Mac Allister’s header and produced a world-class save to deny Julian Alvarez.

Egypt were forced to defend deep and in numbers after the restart, but thought they had doubled their advantage through Mostafa Zico’s brilliant goal in the 58th minute, only for VAR to rule it out for a foul in the build-up.

🇦🇷 0-1 🇪🇬

Egypt think they have a second, but a foul in the build-up sees it ruled out and keeps Argentina in it.

Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/0XjU0KQImI

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026

The North Africans were not to be denied a second nine minutes later though.

Another thrilling counter-attack, involving Mohamed Salah and Hassan, saw the latter’s cut-back swept home by Zico in the 67th minute.

🇦🇷 0-2 🇪🇬

They won't rule this one out. A superb counter-attack move from Egypt sees them go end to end as Zico finishes emphatically.

Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/4EVinKwZsS

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026

Argentina responded to the relief of their shell-shocked fans with 11 minutes left when Romero headed home Messi’s cross to set up a grandstand finale.

🇦🇷 1-2 🇪🇬

Not over yet in Atlanta, Christian Romero wanders forward and is left unmarked in the box to head home a Messi cross.

Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/lmnZaoh1LH

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026

Messi then pounced on a loose ball in the box four minutes later to slam home an equaliser – his eighth goal of the tournament and 21st at World Cups in total – which raised the Atlanta Stadium roof.

And in the second minute of time added on, Fernandez snatched victory for Argentina with a lung-busting run into the box to head Lautaro Martinez’s cross into the top corner and break Egyptian hearts.

Written by The 42 and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.