Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleArgentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after the match as Argentina qualify for the quarter finals (Reuters)Argentina secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt in their World Cup 2026 last-16 match, overturning a 2-0 deficit with just 11 minutes left to play. Cristian Romero initiated the comeback with a goal on 79 minutes, followed by Lionel Messi, who had earlier missed a penalty, scoring the equaliser four minutes later. Enzo Fernandez sealed Argentina's progression to the quarter-finals by heading home the winning goal in injury time, narrowly avoiding a World Cup disaster for his team. Messi was crying after the final whistle, with ITV pundit Roy Keane declaring that they were “happy tears” after Messi’s big rival Cristiano Ronaldo cried “sad tears” 24 hours earlier when Portugal were eliminated.The Argentine captain also made history during the match, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout stage matches. In fullLionel Messi in tears after dramatic Argentina win over Egypt in World Cup last 16More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Lionel Messi cries ‘happy tears’ as Argentina pull off remarkable World Cup comeback
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleArgentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after the match as Argentina qualify for the quarter finals (Reuters)Argentina secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt in their World Cup 2026 last-16 match, overturning a 2-0 deficit with just 11 minutes left to play. Cristian Romero initiated the comeback with a goal on 79 minutes, followed by Lionel Messi, who had earlier missed a penalty, scoring the equaliser four minutes later. Enzo Fernandez sealed Argentina's progression to the quarter-finals by heading home the winning goal in injury time, narrowly avoiding a World Cup disaster for his team. Messi was crying after the final whistle, with ITV pundit Roy Keane declaring that they were “happy tears” after Messi’s big rival Cristiano Ronaldo cried “sad tears” 24 hours earlier when Portugal were eliminated.The Argentine captain also made history during the match, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout stage matches. In fullLionel Messi in tears after dramatic Argentina win over Egypt in World Cup last 16More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
