Egypt just did the unthinkable. Defender Yasser Ibrahim rose above Argentine center-back Lisandro Martínez in the 15th minute of their 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 clash and buried a header past goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, giving Egypt a 1-0 lead against the reigning world champions.
It was Egypt’s first-ever goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup. For context, Egypt had never even reached the round of 16 before this tournament.
The goal that broke the odds
The match, played on July 7, 2026, was supposed to be a formality for Argentina. Ibrahim’s header from a corner kick gave Egypt the lead before most fans had settled into their seats.
Lionel Messi subsequently missed a penalty. Argentina had not trailed at any point in the tournament before Ibrahim’s strike, making this the first time the defending champions found themselves chasing a game in the 2026 edition.
