Lionel Messi added yet another extraordinary chapter to his legendary FIFA World Cup career on Tuesday, becoming the first player in tournament history to score in six consecutive knockout-stage matches as Argentina produced a stunning late comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the quarter-finals.The 39-year-old, who had earlier missed a first-half penalty, redeemed himself in spectacular fashion by scoring the equaliser in the 83rd minute before Enzo Fernandez completed a remarkable turnaround in stoppage time. Argentina had trailed 2-0 until the 79th minute, making it the latest any team has ever been two or more goals behind and still come back to win a World Cup match in regulation time.
Messi rewrites World Cup record books again
Messi’s strike was historic on multiple fronts. According to Opta, he became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score in six successive knockout-stage matches, underlining his remarkable consistency on football’s biggest stage.The Argentine captain also extended another astonishing record by scoring in nine consecutive World Cup matches, a feat never previously achieved in tournament history.His goal was his eighth of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the highest tally by any player through a team’s opening five matches at a single edition since Germany great Gerd Müller scored 10 in 1970. It also took Messi’s overall World Cup tally to a record-extending 21 goals.The strike also saw him equal Guillermo Stábile’s long-standing Argentine record of eight goals in a single World Cup edition, first set during the inaugural tournament in 1930.Despite missing from the penalty spot earlier in the evening, Messi still produced another all-round masterclass. He became only the second Argentine after Diego Maradona to score, complete at least five dribbles and create five or more chances from open play in a World Cup match.Ironically, the missed penalty also added another unwanted record. Messi became the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup edition (excluding shootouts) and now has four missed penalties across his World Cup career — the most by any player in tournament history.
Argentina produce another famous escape
For long spells, Argentina’s title defence appeared to be over.Yasser Ibrahim gave Egypt an early lead before Mostafa Zico doubled the advantage in the 67th minute. Egypt even had another goal ruled out after a VAR review, leaving Lionel Scaloni’s side on the brink of elimination.Cristian Romero sparked the revival with a towering header in the 79th minute before Messi brought Argentina level four minutes later, sending the crowd into delirium. Deep into stoppage time, Fernandez completed one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup knockout history.Messi, visibly emotional at the final whistle, kept Argentina’s dream of retaining the World Cup alive. The defending champions will now face Switzerland in the quarter-finals, with their captain once again proving that when the stakes are highest, he continues to make history.
