Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrated his team’s incredible fighting spirit after the defending champions pulled off a sensational 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Despite missing a penalty during the match, Messi played a crucial role in Argentina’s turnaround and continued rewriting World Cup history with another record-breaking performance.
The thrilling encounter in Atlanta saw Argentina fall 2-0 behind in the 67th minute, leaving their title defence in serious danger. However, the champions responded with a stunning comeback, scoring three goals in just 13 minutes. Cristian Romero, Messi, and Enzo Fernandez found the net to complete a dramatic recovery and send Argentina into the quarter-finals.
Following the victory, Messi shared an emotional message on social media praising his teammates. He wrote, “This team never gives up. Today is crazy, again… this group is INCREDIBLE!!! Let’s go.” The Argentine skipper highlighted the unity and determination within the squad after another unforgettable World Cup battle.
The match also added several milestones to Messi’s legendary international career. With his goal in the 83rd minute, the forward extended his record streak of scoring in nine consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, becoming the first player in tournament history to achieve the feat.
Messi’s strike also increased his total goals in the ongoing World Cup to eight, marking his most prolific World Cup campaign in terms of goals. He further extended his record for the highest number of World Cup goals in history, taking his overall tally in the tournament to 21 goals.
According to statistics provider Opta, Messi also became the first player ever to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout-stage matches, further cementing his place among football’s greatest performers.
The Argentine superstar matched the record of legendary striker Guillermo Stábile for the most goals scored by an Argentine player in a single World Cup edition, with both players reaching eight goals in their respective tournaments.
Messi also joined Argentine icon Diego Maradona as only the second player to score, complete more than five successful dribbles, and create more than five open-play chances in a single World Cup match. His all-around display came despite the disappointment of missing a penalty earlier in the game.
The penalty miss also highlighted Messi’s human side during an otherwise historic night. He became the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup edition, excluding shootouts. Across his World Cup career, Messi has now missed four penalties, the most by any player in tournament history.
With Argentina advancing to the quarter-finals, Messi and his teammates continue their pursuit of back-to-back World Cup titles, while the captain’s record-breaking journey remains one of the biggest stories of the tournament.