Argentina stages stunning comeback to reach quarterfinals
Argentina captain Lionel Messi hailed his team's resilience after they overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. The defending champions were trailing 2-0 until the 67th minute, but three goals in 13 minutes from Cristian Romero, Messi, and Enzo Fernandez secured a dramatic victory and a spot in the quarterfinals.
Messi's Instagram tribute
Taking to Instagram after the match, Messi wrote: "This team never gives up. Today is crazy, again... this group is INCREDIBLE!!! Let's go." The post reflected the emotional rollercoaster of a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Record-breaking performance
Messi extended his remarkable World Cup scoring streak to nine consecutive matches, becoming the first player ever to achieve this feat. His 83rd-minute goal took his tally in the ongoing tournament to eight goals, his most productive World Cup edition. With 21 goals overall, he now holds the record for the most goals in World Cup history.
According to OptaJoe, Messi also became the first player to score in six successive knockout stage matches in the tournament. He equalled Guillermo Stabile's 1930 record for most goals by an Argentina player in a single World Cup edition, with eight goals each.
All-round contribution despite penalty miss
Messi joined the late Diego Maradona as the second Argentina player to score, produce five or more dribbles, and create five or more open-play chances in a World Cup match. However, he also missed a penalty in the first half, becoming the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup edition (excluding shootouts). Overall, Messi has missed four penalties in World Cup history, the most by any player.
