Messi, Argentina erase 2-0 deficit in astonishing comeback to beat Egypt

Never count out Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Messi provided a goal and an assist in a four-minute span of the second half, and Enzo Fernandez scored the game-winner in the 92nd minute to help Argentina overcome a 2-0 deficit and claim a dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Egypt led 2-0 until the 78th minute but wasn't able to hold on as Argentina rallied with three goals in just over 13 minutes.

Lautaro Martinez delivered a perfect cross to Fernandez to seal one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup knockout-stage history.

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Argentina's "Remontada" began with Messi's assist to Cristian Romero, who found the net for the reigning World Cup champion with a header in the 79th minute.

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Messi then came up clutch with a goal of his own in the 83rd minute after missing a penalty in the first half. The Argentina icon, who's the World Cup all-time leader in goals (21), now tops this year's tournament with eight tallies.

He's scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches.

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Messi's eight goals are the most by a player through a team's first five games of a single World Cup since Germany's Gerd Muller in 1970 (10), according to Opta.

Manager Lionel Scaloni and Messi both cried after Argentina's comeback in what is likely the 39-year-old's final World Cup.

Egypt's Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring in the first half, and the Egyptians doubled their lead with Mostafa Ziko's superb finish in the 67th minute. Ziko also had a goal overturned by VAR minutes before finding the net again.

Messi and Argentina couldn't do much against the Egyptians for most of the game as Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir came up with multiple key saves.

The Messi penalty kick Shobeir stopped in the first half was the Argentine's fourth miss from the penalty spot in eight attempts throughout his World Cup career. Messi was also denied by Austria during the group stage, but the 39-year-old found the net twice in that game to give Argentina a 2-0 win.

Egypt's temporary lead in the round of 16 marked the first time Argentina trailed in a World Cup game since its 2022 opener against Saudi Arabia. La Albiceleste lost that match 2-1 but ultimately won the tournament.

Argentina will face the winner of Switzerland versus Colombia in the quarterfinals.