标签： South America

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered its most dramatic contest, a clash that will be remembered as one of the tournament’s greatest underdog comebacks, as an aging but indefatigable Lionel Messi steered defending champions Argentina to a stunning 3-2 victory over Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. When the final whistle blew, the football icon stood center pitch, overcome with tears, collapsing into the arms of his teammates after scripting another legendary chapter in his already unparalleled career.

With less than 20 minutes remaining on the clock, giant screens inside the stadium captured a look of uncharacteristic despair on Messi’s face. Egypt held a comfortable 2-0 lead, and elimination seemed all but certain for Argentina – a fate that would have mirrored the emotional World Cup exit endured by Messi’s contemporary Cristiano Ronaldo just days earlier, when Portugal fell to Spain in stoppage time. But this Argentina side, forged in the fire of championship glory, refused to accept defeat. Over a staggering 14 minutes, they rattled off three unanswered goals to pull off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in World Cup history.

At 39, Messi no longer dominates matches with the blistering pace that defined his peak. He conserves his energy, picks his moments, and relies on the razor-sharp footballing intelligence that has made him a generational talent. Even when his penalty was saved by Egypt’s inspired goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir in the first half – marking the second penalty miss of this tournament for Messi, making him the only player in World Cup history to miss two non-shootout penalties in a single edition – the legend never wavered.

Egypt had put in a near-perfect performance to that point. Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring in the first half, and Mostafa Zico doubled their advantage after an earlier goal was disallowed by VAR for a foul far from the attacking box. Shobeir’s heroic stop from the spot kept Argentina off the board, and Egypt was on the cusp of pulling off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

That all changed with 11 minutes left on the clock. Messi delivered a pinpoint cross that Cristiano Romero nodded home, giving Argentina a flicker of hope. Just over four minutes later, Messi struck a blistering left-footed shot that cannoned off the crossbar and past Shobeir to level the score. In stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez headed home the winning goal, breaking Egyptian hearts and sending Argentina through to the quarter-finals.

In the chaotic celebrations that followed, Messi’s teammates lifted their talisman high above their heads, while jubilant Argentine fans stayed in the stands long after the final whistle, singing their team’s anthems to a thundering drumbeat. That collective sacrifice from the side, the hard work off the ball and the willingness to play to their captain’s strengths, has been the backbone of Argentina’s run. As former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, put it: “That was incredible. Spectacular. Argentina were down and out. They were out of the tournament at one point. Egypt are so frustrated with the refereeing decisions that have gone against them… Then Lionel Messi just stepped in and took over. Beautiful assist, great finish for his goal, and then the substitutions worked for Argentina.”

The result also reshapes the tournament path for England, who had been gearing up for a potential semi-final clash with Egypt if the underdogs held on. Instead, England now faces the prospect of a meeting with Messi and Argentina in the semi-finals, should they get past Norway in the quarter-finals. Even at 39, Messi casts an intimidating shadow over any opponent, as Egypt learned the hard way.

This tournament has already cemented another set of historic milestones for Messi. He became the first player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive knockout matches, and currently sits on eight goals at this 2026 tournament – the highest tally by any player through the first five matches of a World Cup since Gerd Muller scored 10 for West Germany at the 1970 Mexico edition. Across his last nine World Cup outings, Messi has now contributed directly to 16 goals: 13 goals and three assists, a run of form that has England bracing for a potential high-stakes meeting with the legend.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni’s side are far from a one-man team, however. They blend attacking flair with defensive steel, anchored by a refusal to accept defeat that carried them through a 3-2 scare against Cape Verde in the knockout round opener. Statistics underscore just how unlikely this comeback was: Opta data gave Argentina just a 0.6% win probability when Romero scored their opening goal, making this the latest any side has come from two goals down to win a 90-minute World Cup match in tournament history.

Amid a tournament already packed with dramatic contests, including England’s 3-2 thriller against Mexico at the Azteca, this matchup between Argentina and Egypt has emerged as the frontrunner for the best game of the 2026 World Cup so far. For Messi, the tears after the final whistle were a reminder that even after more than two decades at the top of global football, the emotion of the World Cup still hits as hard as ever. Now, the champion prepares for his next challenge: a quarter-final clash against the winner of the Switzerland vs Colombia match, with history still within his reach.

ATLANTA — When the final whistle blew at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, Lionel Messi could no longer hold back his emotions. Tears streamed down the Argentina captain’s face, capping off one of the most dramatic comeback wins in recent World Cup history: his side roared back from a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt 3-2, punching their ticket to the tournament’s quarterfinal round.

All three of Argentina’s winning goals came in the final 11 minutes of regulation plus stoppage time, and Messi was directly involved in two of the decisive strikes. In the 79th minute, the captain set up Cristian Romero’s game-opening header with a pinpoint assist that put Argentina on the board. Just four minutes later, he slotted a powerful shot past Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir to level the score at 2-2, shifting the entire momentum of the match.

Inside the sold-out Atlanta stadium, where the stands were flooded with Argentina’s iconic light blue and white stripes from the opening kickoff, the crowd exploded into celebration after Messi’s equalizer. For the Argentina squad, seeing their leader step up to rescue the match was nothing short of expected.

“Watching Leo push himself harder every single day, running the way he does for this team — I told him after the match that he deserved this moment,” Argentina forward Lautaro Martínez told reporters after the win. “He is our role model, our guide, the player that lifts us up at every turn. This team never quits, we keep fighting until the final second, and that spirit starts with him.”

Messi’s 79th-minute strike marked his eighth goal of this year’s World Cup, pushing him to the top of the tightly contested Golden Boot race, awarded to the tournament’s top goalscorer. The goal also extended a historic record: he has now scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches dating back to Argentina’s 2022 title run in Qatar. Across that nine-game stretch, Messi has found the back of the net 13 times.

Heading into Tuesday’s match, Messi had entered tied with France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland on seven goals apiece, with Mbappé holding a tiebreaker advantage thanks to his two extra assists. England’s Harry Kane also remained in contention heading into the final group stage matches with six goals. The late brace against Egypt now gives Messi a two-goal lead over Mbappé on the all-time World Cup career scoring leaderboard as well.

This isn’t the first time Messi has stolen the show on the World Cup stage: he finished second in the 2022 Golden Boot race behind Mbappé that year, notching seven goals while leading Argentina to their third World Cup title. He also tied for third in the 2014 race in Brazil with four goals. Even so, his performance this tournament has stood out even for a player of his already legendary caliber.

Teammate Julián Álvarez says Messi’s impact on Argentina’s 2024 World Cup run is almost impossible to put into words. “There are truly no words to describe what Leo is doing at this tournament,” Álvarez said. “What he has accomplished is incredible, and all we can do as teammates is support him, help him where we can, and cherish every minute we get to play alongside him. We are so grateful for everything he does for this squad, and for the person he is.”

Whether he holds onto his lead and claims his first career Golden Boot or not, Messi’s standing as one of the greatest players to ever step onto the pitch is already secure, according to his teammates. “He is a legend,” Álvarez said simply. “The greatest in history.”

ATLANTA — The 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 is set to deliver a high-stakes showdown between defending champion Argentina and historic underdog Egypt, with both teams announcing key starting lineup shifts ahead of Tuesday’s match. Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni made three notable changes to his side, headlined by recalling Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez to the starting frontline in place of Lautaro Martinez. Scaloni also swapped in left-back Nicolas Tagliafico and midfielder Leandro Paredes into the starting XI to shore up the side ahead of the knockout round test.

On Egypt’s side, manager also adjusted his lineup, opting to bench Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush in favor of starting winger Haissem Hassan. Midfielder Mohanad Lashin reclaimed his spot in the starting group after serving a one-match suspension, returning to add defensive stability and distribution to the Pharaohs’ midfield.

This knockout match carries historic stakes for both sides. Argentina enters the contest chasing a unique place in World Cup folklore: if Lionel Scaloni’s side can lift the trophy for a second consecutive tournament, they will become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962. The defending champions already faced a major test in the round of 32, getting an unexpected scare from Cape Verde, an underdog ranked far lower in the global standings. Argentina ultimately scraped through with a 3-2 extra time win, but the tight contest proved that even the tournament favorites can be pushed to the limit by determined lower-ranked sides.

For Egypt, this match already marks a watershed moment in the nation’s World Cup history. This is the first time Egypt has advanced past the group stage in five total World Cup appearances, having fallen at the first hurdle in each of its four previous campaigns. Led by star forward Mohamed Salah, the African side will look to add another chapter to its historic run by upsetting the defending champions and advancing to the quarterfinals.

Full starting lineups for the match are as follows:
– Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Paredes, Fernandez; Messi, Alvarez
– Egypt: Shobeir; Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hafez; Ashour, Attia, Lashin, Hassan; Salah, Zico

Reporting by James Robson, additional coverage from the Associated Press.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage heats up, football fans across the globe are turning their full attention to a blockbuster last-16 showdown in Atlanta, where two of the greatest players of this generation will lead their nations into battle for a spot in the quarter-finals. On Tuesday at 17:00 BST, Argentina, the defending 2022 champions, will face off against Egypt, with the match pitting Argentine legend Lionel Messi against Egyptian icon Mohamed Salah – two global superstars whose paths have never crossed at this decisive a stage in World Cup history.

At 39 years old, Messi is widely expected to take the pitch for his final World Cup, having already hinted that this tournament will wrap up his decades-long run with Argentina’s national team. For the 34-year-old Salah, this match marks a historic first: after two prior World Cup appearances without advancing past the group stage, this is his and Egypt’s first ever trip to the World Cup knockout round. While Salah has not ruled out featuring in the 2030 tournament, the stakes of this encounter are unmatched for the Egyptian captain.

The two stars carry vastly different World Cup legacies into Tuesday’s clash. Messi is already the most decorated player in tournament history: he holds records for the most all-time goals, most appearances, and currently sits as one of the top scorers in this summer’s tournament. He already has a 2022 World Cup title to his name, and Argentina is one win away from chasing an unprecedented third consecutive major international trophy, with the entire nation dreaming of becoming only the third country in history to win back-to-back World Cup titles – a feat only Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) have ever pulled off.

Across Argentina, the word “bicampeonato” (back-to-back World Cup victory) is on every fan’s lips, but an unspoken question hangs over every match the team plays: what will happen when Messi finally retires from international football? Despite his age, Messi is turning back the clock in this tournament, netting seven goals to date and breaking new records including becoming the first player to compete in six World Cups and score in eight consecutive World Cup matches. His form has been so stunning that fans across the country have been able to push thoughts of his retirement to the background, focusing instead on savoring every moment they get to watch him wear the iconic albiceleste jersey.

Still, local sports journalists have highlighted a familiar trend in this tournament: Argentina has once again become heavily dependent on their captain. Before current manager Lionel Scaloni took charge, the national side was defined by its over-reliance on Messi, a pattern that led to a string of crushing final defeats: a 2014 World Cup final loss to Germany, and back-to-back Copa America final penalty losses to Chile in 2015 and 2016. Scaloni was lauded for building a balanced squad that complemented Messi rather than revolving entirely around him, but that dynamic has shifted in this 2026 tournament. Only four of Argentina’s 11 goals so far have come from players other than Messi; star strikers Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez have primarily operated as support for the captain, while creative midfield standouts Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister have prioritized defensive work over attacking output. As many local observers put it, the closer the nation gets to Messi’s departure, the more the team leans on the icon that has defined a generation of Argentine football.

For Egypt and its people, Salah occupies a similar unmatched place in the national consciousness – far beyond his contributions on the pitch. As one Egyptian fan shared, Salah is more than a star forward: he is a symbol of national pride, hope, and possibility. Born in the small village of Nagrig, his journey from humble beginnings to the top of global football serves as an inspiration to millions of Egyptians, proving that hard work and self-belief can open any door. Off the pitch, his humility and unwavering connection to his home country have earned him deep admiration across the nation, with fans noting he has never forgotten his roots even as he became one of the most famous athletes on the planet.

Salah’s path to this knockout stage has not been without struggle. During his international career, Egypt fell short in the 2017 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals, and he has had multiple high-profile public disagreements with the Egyptian Football Association over issues ranging from image rights to team management and travel arrangements. But his calm, iconic Panenka penalty in the round of 32 penalty shootout against Australia delivered Egypt’s historic first knockout round qualification, uniting the entire country in celebration. For Salah, Tuesday’s match against Argentina represents the chance to create the biggest, most memorable moment of his World Cup career so far.

As kickoff approaches, fans across the world are preparing to watch two living legends of the sport go head-to-head, one chasing a final historic title, the other chasing the biggest upset of his nation’s World Cup history.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – As Switzerland prepares for its must-win World Cup round of 16 matchup against Colombia on Tuesday, a sudden wave of training exits has thrown the European side’s preparations into last-minute uncertainty, with breakout tournament sensation Johan Manzambi among three key players who cut their Monday training session short. The Swiss national team confirmed that alongside Manzambi, starting midfielder Rubén Vargas and central midfielder Djibril Sow also left practice early, but offered no additional details on the nature of their issues or the severity of any possible injuries.

In the wake of a controversial 2026 World Cup round of 16 match that saw France defeat Paraguay to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, a firestorm of global condemnation has erupted after a sitting Paraguayan senator made virulently racist comments targeting French captain Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé hit back at the lawmaker on Monday, delivering a scathing public rebuke that has drawn widespread international attention.

Celeste Amarilla, a senator representing Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, launched the racist attack on social media platform X shortly after Mbappé converted a match-winning penalty to secure France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay on Saturday. Her comments mocked the 25-year-old’s racial origins, childhood upbringing, educational background and physical appearance, in a post that quickly spread across global social media.

Mbappé did not stay silent in the face of the attack, posting a blunt response on his own X account that has been shared more than a million times as of Monday evening. He labeled Amarilla a “despicable woman” unfit to hold a seat in Paraguay’s national congress, noting that her reckless, openly bigoted comments had already overshadowed the historic World Cup run that the Paraguayan national team put together in this tournament.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup,” Mbappé wrote.

Officials from both Paraguay and France have lined up to condemn Amarilla’s remarks, separating her views from official national positions. By mid-Monday, the Paraguayan government released an official statement disavowing the senator’s comments, saying they directly contradict the core values of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that the South American nation officially upholds. The statement emphasized that Amarilla’s words do not represent the views of either the Paraguayan government or the Paraguayan people.

France’s top governing body for football, the French Football Federation (FFF), also issued a formal denunciation, calling Amarilla’s comments “utterly abhorrent” and “unacceptable.” The organization confirmed it would be referring the incident to French prosecutors for formal review. FFF president Philippe Diallo also extended condemnation to a second incident of anti-French racist rhetoric from former Paraguayan football star José Luis Chilavert, who referred to the entire French national squad as “a squad from Africa” ahead of Saturday’s match. Diallo noted that Chilavert, once a widely respected top goalkeeper, had now “fallen into disgrace” for his bigoted comments.

Marina Ferrari, France’s sports minister, also publicly expressed outrage over the incident, voicing unwavering support for Mbappé and the French national team. “By targeting Kylian Mbappé, the senator is attacking everything our captain embodies and everything our country stands for: liberty, equality and fraternity,” Ferrari wrote on X.

France’s assistant national team coach Guy Stéphan also added his voice to the chorus of condemnation on Monday, summing up the widespread reaction in three sharp words: “In three words, it’s indignant, abject, scandalous.”

As of Monday evening, The Associated Press has reached out to Amarilla via her social media channels to request a response to the widespread condemnation, but has not yet received a reply. France is set to continue its World Cup campaign this Thursday, when it will face Morocco in the tournament’s quarterfinal round.

In the wake of Paraguay’s last-16 World Cup exit at the hands of France, a firestorm of controversy has erupted over targeted racist remarks against French superstar forward Kylian Mbappe, drawing sharp condemnation from both the player and the French Football Federation (FFF).

Celeste Amarilla, a senator representing Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, took to social platform X to share mocking comments about Mbappe’s ethnic origin and educational background after France secured a narrow victory over the South American side. Mbappe, who scored the winning penalty in the match to punch France’s ticket to the quarter-finals, delivered a blistering public rebuke of the senator’s words.

Calling Amarilla a despicable figure completely unfit for public office, Mbappe emphasized that the senator does not represent the values of Paraguay itself — a nation whose players fought with honor and passion across the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament. He argued that Amarilla’s reckless, open racism has overshadowed the historic achievements of the Paraguayan squad, turning global attention instead to the bigoted comments of an incompetent politician who has tarnished her country’s global reputation. Mbappe made clear he would not stand by to allow hatred and racism to spread unchallenged on the world stage.

The FFF has echoed Mbappe’s condemnation, announcing it will move forward with filing criminal charges against Amarilla, describing her remarks as utterly abhorrent and unacceptable. In an official statement, the governing body stressed that such comments are both criminal and morally reprehensible, requiring legal prosecution regardless of jurisdiction. The FFF has formally referred the matter to public prosecutors to initiate legal proceedings, noting that these racist insults target not just Mbappe, but the entire French nation represented by the national team. “These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them,” the statement added.

Mbappe’s decisive penalty against Paraguay capped another strong tournament performance for the French forward, who entered the quarter-final stage of the 2026 World Cup tied as the tournament’s leading goal scorer with seven goals, level alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Norway’s Erling Haaland. France was set to face Morocco in their quarter-final fixture in Boston just four days after the knockout win over Paraguay.

Amarilla’s comments are not an isolated incident, either: ahead of the France-Paraguay tie, former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert drew widespread criticism for his own racist comment, claiming the Paraguayan side was facing “a squad from Africa.” That remark also drew a fierce response from FFF president Philippe Diallo, who labeled Chilavert a disgrace to the sport. “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by Jose Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football,” Diallo said. “If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace.”