NFL icon Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, has praised Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup round of 16, stating that the comeback might have topped his own historic Super Bowl LI rally. Argentina trailed 2-0 with just 13 minutes remaining in regulation time but scored three goals to snatch an unforgettable win.
Argentina's stunning turnaround
Egypt took control early in the match when Yasser Ibrahim headed home from Marwan Attia's corner in the 15th minute. Argentina had an immediate chance to level after Nicolas Tagliafico won a penalty, but goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir denied Lionel Messi from the spot. Shobeir continued his impressive display, saving efforts from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez, while Messi also struck the crossbar with a free-kick. Egypt held a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage early in the second half through Mostafa Ziko, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review. However, the Pharaohs were not to be denied for long, as Ziko finished off a swift counterattack in the 67th minute after good work from Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan to make it 2-0.
Three goals in 13 minutes
Argentina responded with renewed urgency after introducing attacking reinforcements. Cristian Romero reduced the deficit in the 79th minute, heading in Messi's inviting free-kick. Just four minutes later, Messi levelled the contest with a powerful strike from the edge of the box that found the net after clipping the goalkeeper's gloves and the underside of the crossbar.
With extra time looming, Argentina completed their remarkable turnaround in stoppage time. A loose ball fell kindly to Enzo Fernandez on the edge of the penalty area, and the midfielder calmly slotted a low finish into the bottom corner to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory. The win sends Argentina into the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of the Round of 16 clash between Switzerland and Colombia on July 8.
Brady and Mahomes react
Posting on X after watching the Argentina masterclass, Brady remarked, "Yeah so that might top 28-3," referring to his New England Patriots' comeback from a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, which they won 34-28. Brady secured the MVP award in that game.
Another NFL quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion, also posted a goat emoji, crowning Messi as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time).
According to ANI, the match was an instant classic, with Argentina's victory marking another thrilling chapter in the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
