FORT LAUDERDALE — Inter Miami CF superstar Lionel Messi rescued Argentina from elimination with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 Round of 16 comeback victory over Egypt at Atlanta Stadium, keeping the defending champions alive in the 2026 World Cup.
Messi’s performance pushed his career World Cup scoring tally to 21 goals — an all-time best — and extended his record goal-scoring streak to nine straight World Cup games. The back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP also retook the tournament Golden Boot lead with nine goals in the competition.
“To those kids watching him [Messi] and can’t believe what they’re seeing, use him as an example,” head coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters after the match. “… It honestly gives me goosebumps.”
Argentina trailed by two goals before Messi’s assist on Cristian Romero’s 79th-minute header ignited the rally. That helper gave Messi nine career World Cup assists, a new record that surpassed fellow Argentine legend Diego Armando Maradona. Enzo Fernández sealed the comeback with a 92nd-minute winner.
“For what he is, for what he gives, for this being his last World Cup, because he’s our guide,” striker Lautaro Martínez, who assisted on Fernández’s decisive goal, said of Messi. “We try to follow him and give our best always. And once again, Argentina was well represented.”
The victory sets up a quarterfinal for La Albiceleste against either Colombia or Switzerland on Saturday at Kansas City Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on FOX, Telemundo and Peacock.