Lionel Scaloni insisted he always believed Argentina could turn things around despite finding themselves 2-0 down against Egypt in their last 16 tie at the World Cup.
Argentina were staring down the barrel of becoming the first defending champions to exit the tournament at this stage since Italy in 1986 after being stunned by their opponents.
Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt into a 15th-minute lead before Mostafa Zico, who had seen an earlier goal ruled out by VAR, finished past Emiliano Martinez in the 67th minute.
However, Argentina hit back with two goals in the space of four minutes. Cristian Romero headed in Lionel Messi’s cross in the 79th minute before the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner thundered the equaliser in off the crossbar.
But there was to be more late drama. After Julian Alvarez sent Lautaro Martinez on his way, he crossed for Enzo Fernandez to head home and complete an incredible comeback.
According to Opta’s win probability data, Argentina had just a 0.6% chance of winning at the time of Romero’s goal to make it 2-1.
Argentina were trailing as of the 78th minute of this match, the latest any team has ever been 2+ goals down in a World Cup game and come back to win without going to extra time, as they won a game in which they trailed by two goals at the competitions for the first time.
Scaloni, however, revealed that he was always confident that his team would find a way to win and keep their title defence going, with Switzerland their next opponents.
“I always felt the game was on our side. Beyond the result, I don’t think the team was playing badly. We had chances,” Scaloni told reporters.
“Against Cape Verde it was worse, we really looked in trouble. Today, even when it was 0-2, the feeling was that at some point we would get a chance and could turn it around.
“Against Egypt, we played totally different soccer.”
78 – Argentina were trailing as of the 78th minute, the latest any team has ever been 2+ goals down in a FIFA World Cup game and come back to win without going to extra time (3-2).
Legendary. pic.twitter.com/sQUtiaoAbL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2026
Scaloni also had strong praise for captain Messi, who squandered the chance to get his side level in the 21st minute, seeing his penalty saved by Mostafa Shobeir.
Excluding shootouts, Messi is the only player to fail to convert 2+ penalties in a single World Cup tournament, having also missed the target against Austria in the group stages.
But he atoned for his miss with a goal and assist, while becoming the first player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive knockout stage matches.
Messi also netted his record-extending 21st World Cup goal, and now has eight at the tournament this year. It is the most by a player through a team’s opening five games of a single edition since Germany’s Gerd Muller in 1970 (10).
“I’m convinced that he plays soccer for moments like this… For him to feel these emotions at this stage of his career is hard to explain,” Scaloni said of Messi’s display.
“It was an unforgettable moment. Whatever happens from here on, this team gives me the feeling that it never stops believing, even when everything is going against it.”
Fernandez’s header was the 3,000th goal scored in the competition’s history. Timed at 91:55, it was also the latest winning goal scored by an Argentine player in normal time of a World Cup match.
And following the full-time whistle, several of the Argentina players, along with Scaloni, were reduced to tears after delivering another seismic display.
“I always get emotional. Sometimes the tears come out,” Scaloni said. “The tears came in the dressing room too. The boys even call me ‘the crybaby,’ but I don’t care.
“For all of us who played football for 20 years, to feel what we felt today again is incredible.
“I think most coaches who played soccer become coaches because of days like this, because of those emotions, that adrenaline.”
