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Messi's Magic: Argentina Escapes World Cup Exit
7 Jul
Summary
- Argentina staged a remarkable comeback after trailing Egypt 2-0.
- Lionel Messi missed a first-half penalty but later scored.
- Enzo Fernandez scored the late winner in stoppage time.
Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, narrowly escaped elimination from the World Cup, a day after rival Cristiano Ronaldo's exit. The team found themselves trailing Egypt 2-0 after a strong defensive performance and counter-attacks from their opponents. Egypt's Yaser Ibrahim scored an early header, and Mostafa Ziko added a second goal in the second half, though a controversial VAR review initially disallowed it.
Despite missing a first-half penalty, Lionel Messi played a pivotal role in Argentina's resurgence. Cristian Romero pulled one back before Messi himself equalized with a fierce strike. The dramatic turnaround was completed in stoppage time when substitute Lautaro Martinez provided a cross for Enzo Fernandez, who headed home the winning goal.
The incredible 3-2 victory sent Argentina through to the quarterfinals, with Messi visibly emotional after the nail-biting match. The win guarantees their continued participation in the tournament, while Egypt was eliminated.
