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Three goals in 11 minutes. One goal wiped out from 90 yards away. Argentina are through, and the debate is just starting.
Argentina 3 — Egypt 2 | Round of 16 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta July 7, 2026
🇦🇷 Romero 79' · Messi 83' · Fernández 90+2' 🇪🇬 Ibrahim 15' · Zico 67'
🇪🇬 Egypt goals
15' — Yasser Ibrahim heads Attia's deep cross in at the back post. Egypt lead. First time Argentina have trailed at halftime in this tournament.
59' ❌ — Zico goal ruled out. A brilliant Egyptian counter. VAR disallowed it for a foul on Lisandro Martínez in the build-up. Egyptian bench erupted.
67' — Mostafa Zico sweeps home the cut-back from Hassan. Salah started the move, of course. Egypt 2-0. Argentina looked like a team who knew they were beaten.
🇦🇷 Argentina goals
~20' — Messi penalty saved. Shobeir dived left and palmed it away.
79' — Cristian Romero heads in Messi's cross.
83' — Lionel Messi. A loose ball in the box. He slammed it in off the bar. The goalkeeper got a touch. Messi's eighth goal of the tournament, his 21st at World Cups in total.
90+2' — Enzo Fernández makes a lung-busting run into the box and heads Lautaro's cross into the top corner. Argentina 3-2. The goal is later confirmed as the 3,000th in World Cup history. Egypt coaching staff red-carded in the aftermath. Messi cried.
⚖️ The controversy
VAR disallowed Ziko's 59th-minute goal for a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martínez, a minor challenge 90 yards from goal, 10 seconds before the strike. FOX Sports' Rob Green on air: "Someone stepping on someone's toe is not why VAR was brought into the game." Former FIFA referee Mark Clattenburg: "This is not a decision for VAR."
Four yellow cards handed to Egypt players and coach Hossam Hassan in the final stages as Argentina's comeback unfolded.
Hassan's anti-racism "X" gesture, FIFA's protocol to halt the match, was ignored by referee Letexier. The first time the gesture was used at this World Cup.
Zico after the match: "The referee was unfair. This is clear and obvious oppression."
💬 Argentina recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt 3-2, but the match was full of controversy. Was Egypt robbed, or is this just how football goes?
Argentina 3 — Egypt 2 | Round of 16 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta July 7, 2026
🇦🇷 Romero 79' · Messi 83' · Fernández 90+2' 🇪🇬 Ibrahim 15' · Zico 67'
🇪🇬 Egypt goals
15' — Yasser Ibrahim heads Attia's deep cross in at the back post. Egypt lead. First time Argentina have trailed at halftime in this tournament.
59' ❌ — Zico goal ruled out. A brilliant Egyptian counter. VAR disallowed it for a foul on Lisandro Martínez in the build-up. Egyptian bench erupted.
67' — Mostafa Zico sweeps home the cut-back from Hassan. Salah started the move, of course. Egypt 2-0. Argentina looked like a team who knew they were beaten.
🇦🇷 Argentina goals
~20' — Messi penalty saved. Shobeir dived left and palmed it away.
79' — Cristian Romero heads in Messi's cross.
83' — Lionel Messi. A loose ball in the box. He slammed it in off the bar. The goalkeeper got a touch. Messi's eighth goal of the tournament, his 21st at World Cups in total.
90+2' — Enzo Fernández makes a lung-busting run into the box and heads Lautaro's cross into the top corner. Argentina 3-2. The goal is later confirmed as the 3,000th in World Cup history. Egypt coaching staff red-carded in the aftermath. Messi cried.
⚖️ The controversy
VAR disallowed Ziko's 59th-minute goal for a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martínez, a minor challenge 90 yards from goal, 10 seconds before the strike. FOX Sports' Rob Green on air: "Someone stepping on someone's toe is not why VAR was brought into the game." Former FIFA referee Mark Clattenburg: "This is not a decision for VAR."
Four yellow cards handed to Egypt players and coach Hossam Hassan in the final stages as Argentina's comeback unfolded.
Hassan's anti-racism "X" gesture, FIFA's protocol to halt the match, was ignored by referee Letexier. The first time the gesture was used at this World Cup.
Zico after the match: "The referee was unfair. This is clear and obvious oppression."
💬 Argentina recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt 3-2, but the match was full of controversy. Was Egypt robbed, or is this just how football goes?
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