Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround with a superb header two minutes into stoppage time.<\/p>\n
At the end, Messi shed tears of joy as he embraced his teammates.<\/p>\n
Egypt were left furious after a number of controversial calls went against them, including a disallowed goal early in the second half, and a member of their coaching staff was red-carded in the aftermath of the winning goal.<\/p>\n
But despite a second almighty scare against African opposition, Argentina will face either Colombia or Switzerland in the last eight on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Lionel Scaloni attempted to refresh a side that looked dead on their feet in the closing stages of a 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the last 32 on Friday.<\/p>\n
Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez came in from the team that started in Miami, but Argentina got off to another slow start.<\/p>\n
Marwan Attia\u2019s deep cross to the back post was powered home by Yasser.<\/p>\n
Argentina had the chance to level five minutes later when Tagliafico was wiped out by Haissem Hassan inside the box.<\/p>\n
However, there was another chapter to Messi\u2019s misery from the penalty spot at World Cups.<\/p>\n
The eight-time Ballon d\u2019Or\u2019s strike was tentative and Mostafa Shobeir flew to his left to save, meaning Messi has now missed four of his eight non-shootout penalties at World Cups. He also became the first player to miss two in a single tournament, having also failed to hit the target against Austria in the group stages.<\/p>\n
The penalty save was just the start of Shobeir\u2019s inspired afternoon.<\/p>\n
Alexis Mac Allister\u2019s powerful header from point-blank range was next to be parried by the Al Ahly stopper.<\/p>\n
Shobeir then produced one of the saves of the tournament to prevent Alvarez\u2019s shot finding the bottom corner.<\/p>\n
Egypt thought they had doubled their lead on the hour mark after a brilliant counter-attack.<\/p>\n
Egypt’s defender Yasser Ibrahim celebrates scoring during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. Photo \/ AFP<\/p>\n
Mohamed Salah played in Mostafa Ziko, who dinked the ball perfectly over the onrushing Emi Martinez.<\/p>\n
However, Egyptian celebrations were cut short by a hugely controversial VAR intervention for a foul on Lisandro Martinez, just outside the Egypt box, at the start of the build-up to the goal.<\/p>\n
The decision finally fired up the majority Argentine crowd, but they were silenced once more moments later by another blistering Egyptian break.<\/p>\n
Salah again led the charge before feeding Hassan, and his cross was swept in by Zico.<\/p>\n
Argentina looked like a beaten side with Messi among those whose head was bowed during the second-half drinks break.<\/p>\n
Yet Romero\u2019s header \u2013 that Shoubir just failed to keep out \u2013 sparked a remarkable revival as the defending champions hauled themselves off the canvas.<\/p>\n
Moments later, a dazzling run by Messi teed up Lautaro Martinez, who headed just wide and Messi was to have his moment of redemption seven minutes from time.<\/p>\n
Gonzalo Montiel fed the ball back for his captain to strike sweetly on the half-volley.<\/p>\n
Shoubir again got a touch but couldn\u2019t get it out as the ball cannoned in off the bar for Messi\u2019s 21st World Cup goal.<\/p>\n
Then Fernandez\u2019s bullet header from Lautaro Martinez\u2019s cross completed the fightback and Argentina\u2019s relief was on full display after the final whistle.<\/p>\n