Argentina’s thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 has been overshadowed by controversy after an on-field exchange involving captain Lionel Messi and Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan reportedly led to the activation of FIFA’s anti-racism protocol. The incident unfolded during the tense closing stages of the match, shifting attention away from Argentina’s dramatic qualification to the quarter-finals.
According to reports, Hassan made FIFA’s official crossed-arms anti-racism gesture toward referee Francois Letexier following a heated interaction with Messi near the touchline. The referee acknowledged the signal and briefly activated the anti-racism procedure before issuing a yellow card to the Egypt coach. FIFA has not yet released an official statement clarifying the nature of the incident or whether any disciplinary proceedings will follow.
The high-stakes Round of 16 encounter was filled with dramatic twists. Egypt stunned the defending champions by racing to a 2-0 lead, putting Argentina under immense pressure. However, Lionel Messi inspired a remarkable comeback despite missing a penalty earlier in the game. Argentina responded with three unanswered goals, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner, securing a memorable victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Following the defeat, Hossam Hassan strongly criticized the officiating, alleging that Egypt had been unfairly denied a legitimate goal after a VAR review. The Egyptian coach also claimed his side should have been awarded a late penalty, arguing that key refereeing decisions significantly influenced the outcome of the knockout clash.
While Argentina now prepare for their quarter-final challenge, the controversy surrounding the anti-racism protocol has become one of the tournament’s biggest talking points. With FIFA expected to review the incident involving Messi and Hassan, the dramatic encounter is likely to remain under intense scrutiny in the coming days as fans await official clarification from football’s governing body.